Coronavirus cases confirmed in Borders up to 11 as death toll claimed by disease in Scotland rises to 10

The number of cases of coronavirus confirmed in the Borders is continuing to edge up and now stands at 11.
Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, holding a briefing in Edinburgh today on the Covid-19 outbreak spreading through the country. (Photo by Andy Buchanan/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, holding a briefing in Edinburgh today on the Covid-19 outbreak spreading through the country. (Photo by Andy Buchanan/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, holding a briefing in Edinburgh today on the Covid-19 outbreak spreading through the country. (Photo by Andy Buchanan/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

An update issued by the Scottish Government today, March 22, reveals an increase of one on yesterday’s tally of 10 positive tests for the disease, also known as Covid-19.

They’re among 416 cases of the illness diagnosed in Scotland to date, up from 373 yesterday.

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Across the UK, 5,018 people have tested positive for coronavirus, up from 3,983 yesterday.

The death toll claimed by Covid-19 in Scotland has gone up from seven to 10, and the number of fatalities attributable to the virus UK-wide now stands at 233.

Some 8,679 tests for the illness have now been carried out in Scotland, with 8,263 coming back negative.

It’s 11 days now since the first two cases of the illness were confirmed in the Borders after spreading worldwide from China, with that figure going up to three last Friday, five last Saturday, seven the day after, eight on Thursday, nine on Friday and 10 yesterday.

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Schools were shut across the Borders and nationwide on Friday in a bid to keep the spread of the pandemic under control, and pubs, cafes, restaurants and leisure centres followed suit later that same day.

Giving a briefing in Edinburgh today on the spread of the disease, Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon warned rogue pubs defying the order issue by UK Government prime minister Boris Johnson on Friday to shut that night that they should do so now or face legal action.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I’m glad to say that the vast majority have complied with the advice to close, and I thank them for that.

“Last night, a tiny minority of pubs, however, stayed open. Let me be blunt, in doing so, they put lives at risk.

“My message to them is close now.

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“We will have emergency powers within days to force you to close, and we will use these powers if we have to, but you should not wait for that. You should do the right thing now and help us save lives.

“These are steps we all must take to protect Scotland.”

Police Scotland deputy chief constable Malcolm Graham addedd: “I am aware that a small number of public houses are intent on defying this instruction and have indicated that they will remain open until legally ordered to close.

“This is absolutely reckless and endangers not only the lives of customers but wider communities in an extremely fast-moving and unprecedented situation where both the health and safety of the nation is at stake.

“I have obtained further legal advice today, and Police Scotland will now instruct officers to serve emergency closure orders on any licensed premises which refuse to comply on the grounds of the threat posed to public safety.

“Officers are now visiting these premises today to have them closed.”