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A recent spike in flu and Covid cases in Scotland may be easing, a public health expert has said.

Jillian Evans, head of health intelligence at NHS Grampian, said the most recent data pointed towards a dip in the respiratory illnesses.

Public Health Scotland's statistics on hospital admissions showed rising case numbers in December, which peaked at the end of the month.

But for Covid admissions were at 350 compared to 381.

The same number of influenza admissions were recorded that week, a notable decrease on the 452 in week ending 31 December.

Last January weekly flu deaths in Scotland reached their highest level in more than 20 years.

Ms Evans told ������̳ Scotland's The Sunday Show there were "lots of nasty bugs around" and many people had been ill last month.

But she added that while the December statistics showed an increase in respiratory cases there had since been a dip.

Ms Evans said: "Right now, we're seeing some early signs that we may have peaked, certainly in terms of Covid prevalence in the community and in hospital admissions too.

"So it's positive signs. We may not be out of the worst. We'll know a bit more this week but I'm keeping my fingers crossed."

Despite the trend she warned against complacency over Covid and said it could still leave people "very ill".

Ms Evans said: "How we feel about Covid, how we feel about respiratory illness, seems to be much more like it was before the pandemic.

"And I think we need to maintain people's vigilance and awareness of this, but not to frighten them too."