Coronavirus claims another life in Borders, but new cases at near standstill

Coronavirus cases in the Borders are now slowing to a near standstill, only one new diagnosis having been confirmed over the last week.
Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, at the Scottish Parliament today. (Photo by Fraser Bremner/WPA pool/Getty Images)Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, at the Scottish Parliament today. (Photo by Fraser Bremner/WPA pool/Getty Images)
Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, at the Scottish Parliament today. (Photo by Fraser Bremner/WPA pool/Getty Images)

The number of positive test results in the region for Covid-19, as the disease is also known, now stands at 346, up from 345 last Thursday.

Though on the wane, the virus remains a threat to life, however, having claimed one further fatality last week.

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According to figures issued by the National Records of Scotland today, June 24, taking into account all fatalities linked to coronavirus and not just among those previously tested and found to be infected, the death toll it’s claimed in the Borders is 72 as of Sunday, up one on the Sunday before.

They are among 4,119 deaths nationwide measured by those criteria or 2,480, as of today, only counting fatalities among those previously confirmed to be Covid-19 sufferers.

The number of coronavirus cases confirmed nationwide is now up to 18,191, a rise of nine overnight.

Across the UK, 306,862 people have tested positive for the disease, up 653 on the day before, and it has killed 43,081 of them, up 154 overnight.

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It’s now nearing four months since Scotland’s first official case of the disease, in Tayside, was announced on Sunday, March 1, after spreading across the world from Wuhan in China.

The first two cases in the Borders followed on Wednesday, March 11.

Giving an update on the outbreak to the Scottish Parliament today, first minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “This is the eighth week in a row in which the number of deaths from the virus has fallen.

“The number of excess deaths, the number above the five-year average for the same time of year, was 39, up from 34 in the previous week. However, for context, the number of excess deaths 10 weeks ago was 878.

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“Deaths in care homes made up 41% of the total Covid deaths last week, and the number of Covid-19 deaths in care homes reduced again, from 35 to 20.

“These statistics tell of real and sustained progress, but even though the number of deaths from Covid is reducing, we must never become inured to them.

“Every death represented in these numbers is a tragedy – the loss of a unique and loved individual – and I want to send my condolences to everyone who is grieving as a result of this virus.

“I am also aware that talking about statistical trends will not provide them with any consolation whatsoever.

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“However, the trends are clear and, for all the pain that this virus is still causing and the real risk it still poses, they are positive, and they give us confidence now to set some firmer milestones for our route out of lockdown.”