Coronavirus cited among causes of death of seven Borders care home residents, council bosses confirm

Those fatalities were claimed by factors including Covid-19 at Saltgreens Care Home in Eyemouth’s Chapel Street.

A further 16 residents at the home have tested positive for the virus, as has one resident of Deanfield Care Home at Roadhead in Hawick.

That takes the total number of residents of council-run care homes in the Borders to test positive for coronavirus, including the seven who have since died, to 24.

They are the only Scottish Borders Council-run homes confirmed to have been hit by the virus since its arrival in the region in March.

Council chief executive Tracey Logan said: “Our sympathy and condolences are with all family members at this difficult time.

“While we are not in a position to provide further details, we can confirm seven residents within Saltgreens Care Home in Eyemouth have sadly passed away where Covid-19 has been recorded as a contributory factor on the death certificate.

“There are currently 16 other residents in Saltgreens who have tested positive since the outbreak, the majority of whom have recovered, and one at Lower Deanfield in Hawick.

“We are continuing to work closely with NHS Borders colleagues to support the situation in both homes and would like to thank them and our own staff for their ongoing care and commitment.

“There are no other recorded cases of Covid-19 in other care homes in the Borders at present.”