Coronavirus cases in Borders up by tenth to 110

The latest daily update issued by the Scottish Government on the spread of coronavirus through the country reveals a rise of 10 cases today, April 4, taking the total for the region to 110.

The death toll claimed by the illness in the region stands at 14.

The first five fatalities claimed here by Covid-19 were announced on Monday, and that figure rose to seven on Tuesday, eight on Wednesday, 11 on Thursday and 14 as of yesterday.

They’re among a death toll of 218 nationwide, up almost 50 from yesterday’s total of 172, and 4,313 across the UK, up from 3,605.

Some 3,345 cases of the illness have been confirmed nationwide, up more than 300 overnight.

Across the UK, 41,903 people have tested positive for the illness, up from 38,168 the day before.

Some 20,798 tests for coronavirus have now been carried out in Scotland, with 17,453 coming back negative.

It’s over three weeks now since the first two cases of the illness were confirmed in the Borders on Wednesday, March 11, and over a month since Scotland’s first case, in Tayside, was announced on Sunday, March 1, after spreading worldwide from China.

That figure went up to three on Friday, March 13; five on Saturday, March 14; seven on Sunday, March 15; eight the following Thursday, March 19; nine on Friday, March 20; 10 on Saturday, March 21; 11 on Sunday, March 22; 12 on Monday, March 23; 15 last Wednesday; 23 last Thursday; 28 last Friday; 35 on Saturday; 50 on Sunday; 63 on Monday; 77 on Tuesday; 87 on Wednesday; 93 yesterday; 100 yesterday; and 110 today.

Though rising rapidly, the number of cases of Covid-19 in the Borders is still lower than those reported in the neighbouring health board areas of Dumfries and Galloway, Lanarkshire and Lothian, up to 127, 427 and 476 respectively.

The 3,300-plus Scots confirmed to have coronavirus are likely to be only the tip of the iceberg, though, according to the country’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood.

She estimates that only one in 64 cases of Covid-19 has been detected this side of the border, and that guess, if correct, would put the likely figure for the region at more than 7,000 out of a population of 115,000 or so.

Giving a briefing yesterday, Scottish Government first minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that reports suggesting the current coronavirus outbreak is likely to peak soon appear to be unfounded, saying: “Nothing I have seen gives me any basis whatsoever for predicting the virus will peak as early as a week’s time here in Scotland.”