Covid in Scotland: Borders and Dumfries and Galloway cases 'worrying'
- Published
Rates per 100,000 have risen sharply in southern Scotland in recent weeks
Health officials in southern Scotland have warned a sharp rise in Covid cases in the area is likely to get worse before it gets better.
Both the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway council areas were under level one restrictions before Christmas.
However, recent figures showed case rates per 100,000 were exceeded only by those in Inverclyde.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway chief executive Jeff Ace said it was a "worrying situation" for the region.
The latest figures, external show an average of 538.1 and 435.5 positive tests per 100,000 people in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders respectively over the last seven days.
The figure for Inverclyde currently sits at 583 positive tests per 100,000 people - the national average is 236.9.
There are now 38 people in hospital with recently confirmed Covid in the Borders and 19 in Dumfries and Galloway, although the numbers in intensive care remains below five in both regions.
"We know the trajectory of cases means things are almost certain to get worse before they get better," said Mr Ace.
"The situation could grow considerably worse, given that these current figures do not account for the further rate of increase we may see resulting from increased social interaction on Christmas Day."
He said the relaxation of restrictions in recent weeks had been followed by the identification of a new "even more highly transmissible strain" of the virus.
Mr Ace urged the public to "go even further" and not just follow national guidelines but limit interactions as much as possible.
The first minister said this week that hospital capacity in the Borders was causing concern
Overall rates of the virus that were initially low led to both the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway moving to level one restrictions early in December.
However, a number of outbreaks saw case numbers rise, and the regions moved into level four restrictions on 26 December along with the rest of mainland Scotland.
NHS Borders reported cases at the Borders General Hospital shortly after it was switched into level one.
Another cluster was also reported at a fish processing factory in the region.
An outbreak in the west of Dumfries and Galloway has played a part in driving up figures
In Dumfries and Galloway, the health board voiced concerns about a new strain of the virus being reported in the region before Christmas.
The outbreak centred on the west of the region - including one involving more than 60 staff and residents at a care home in Stranraer - although cases have also been tracked in the Annandale area.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also said this week that the Borders was one of the health boards giving greatest concern over its hospital capacity.
NHS Borders has been dealing with a number of outbreaks in recent weeks
NHS Borders said it now had three dedicated Covid wards open at the Borders General with the capacity to open more if needed.
Medical director Dr Lynn McCallum said the increase in cases was "undoubtedly due" in part to the spread of the highly transmissible variant.
She added that they expected the impact of rising case numbers to "last for weeks" particularly after household mixing over the festive period.
Council leader Shona Haslam described it as a "very serious situation" and urged the public to stop "or at least minimise" contact with other people.
