NHS Highland has appealed to communities across Highland, Argyll and Bute to work even harder to curb the spread of Covid-19 after a significant increase in cases. Health bosses blame pre-Christmas socialising and indoor mixing over the festive period for the upwards of 700 coronavirus since Christmas eve - with particularly alarming increases in Inverness, Beauly, Dingwall, Invergordon, Alness and Caithness. The spike in cases over the last two weeks has left health officials pleading with locals to adhere to new national guidelines and refrain from mixing with other households. Dr Ken Oates, NHS Highland Public Health Consultant, began by thanking everyone for their efforts.