Coronavirus kills two more sufferers in Borders, taking death toll to 34

Coronavirus has claimed another two lives in the Borders, taking its death toll in the region to 34.
Nicola Sturgeon giving a coronavirus outbreak update yesterday.Nicola Sturgeon giving a coronavirus outbreak update yesterday.
Nicola Sturgeon giving a coronavirus outbreak update yesterday.

Figures issued by the National Records of Scotland, last Wednesday taking into account all deaths attributed to coronavirus and not just among those previously tested and found to be infected, put the death toll for the region at 48 as of a week ago on Sunday, however – 16 higher than the Scottish Government figure of 32 at that time.

It’s now been over a month and a half since the first five fatalities among Covid-19 patients were announced on Monday, March 30.

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That figure, going by Scottish Government calculations, rose to seven the day after, March 31; eight on Wednesday, April 1; 11 on Thursday, April 2; 14 on Friday, April 3; 16 on Sunday, April 5; 17 on Monday, April 6; 19 on Tuesday, April 7; 20 on Friday, April 10; 22 on Saturday, April 11; 23 on Sunday, April 12; 26 on Monday, April 13; 27 on Thursday, April 23; 28 on Friday, April 24; 29 on Monday, April 27; 30 on Wednesday, April 29; 31 on Thursday, April 30; 32 last Tuesday; and 34 today, May 19.

They are among 2,134 coronavirus patients killed by the disease in Scotland so far, up from 2,105 overnight, and 34,796 UK-wide, a rise of 160 on the day before.

One more case of coronavirus has been confirmed in the Borders today, edging the total for the region to almost 320.

The 317 cases here are among 14,655 nationwide, up 61 from 14,594 yesterday.

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Across the UK, 246,406 people have tested positive for the disease, up 2,684 on the day before.

It’s over two months since the first two cases of Covid-19, as the illness is also known, were confirmed in the Borders on Wednesday, March 11, and two and a half months since Scotland’s first case, in Tayside, was announced on Sunday, March 1, after spreading across the world from Wuhan in China.

That figure rose 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 on Wednesday, March 25; 23 on Thursday, March 26; 28 on Friday, March 27; 35 on Saturday, March 28; 50 on Sunday, March 29; 63 on Monday, March 30; 77 on Tuesday, March 31; 87 on Wednesday, April 1; 93 on Thursday, April 2; 100 on Friday, April 3; 110 on Saturday, April 4; 130 on Sunday, April 5; 139 on Monday, April 6; 149 on Tuesday, April 7; 160 on Wednesday, April 8; 167 on Thursday, April 9; 177 on Friday, April 10; 189 on Saturday, April 11; 199 on Sunday, April 12; 204 on Monday, April 13; 208 on Tuesday, April 14; 215 on Wednesday, April 15; 220 on Thursday, April 16; 229 on Friday, April 17; 231 on Saturday, April 18; 237 on Sunday, April 19; 239 on Monday, April 20; 240 on Tuesday, April 21; 243 on Wednesday, April 22; 248 on Thursday, April 23; 253 on Friday, April 24; 258 on Saturday, April 25; 259 on Sunday, April 26; 269 on Monday, April 27; 272 on Tuesday, April 28; 279 on Wednesday, April 29; 281 on Friday, May 1; 283 on Saturday, May 2; 284 on Sunday, May 3; 285 on Wednesday, May 6; 286 on Thursday, May 7; 292 on Monday, May 11; 294 on Tuesday, May 12; 297 on Wednesday, May 13; 298 on Thursday, May 14; 304 on Friday; 310 on Saturday; 313 on Sunday; 316 yesterday; and 317 today.

The number of cases of Covid-19 in the Borders remains higher than in one of its neighbouring health board areas, Dumfries and Galloway’s total being 257, but is still well below the two others, Lanarkshire and Lothian being up to 1,853 and 2,575 respectively.

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Altogether, 59 Scots are in intensive care receiving treatment for coronavirus, with 47 having tested positive and the others awaiting results.

Hospitals in the region are currently treating 21 patients confirmed to have Covid-19.

Some 90,421 tests for the illness have been carried out in Scotland so far, with 75,766 giving negative results.

Giving an update in Edinburgh today on the outbreak, Scottish Government first minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “There have been 14,655 positive cases confirmed, an increase of 61 from yesterday.

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“A total of 1,447 patients are in hospital with Covid-19, 969 who have been confirmed as having the virus and 478 who are suspected of having Covid. That represents a total increase of 20 from yesterday, but, within that, a decrease of 36 in the number of confirmed cases.

“A total of 59 people last night were in intensive care with either confirmed or suspected Covid-19. That is a decrease of four since yesterday.

“In the last 24 hours, 29 deaths have been registered of patients confirmed through a test as having Covid-19. That takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,134.

“As always, I want to send my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost and is grieving for a loved one as a result of this virus.”

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She added: “On Thursday this week, we will publish a routemap setting out how, on a phased basis, we will ease the lockdown while continuing to suppress the virus.

“My hope and intention is that we will take the first concrete steps on that journey next week, but we will increase both the likelihood and the extent of that by sticking to the rules now.

“Please stay at home except for essential purposes, such as daily exercise, going to essential work that you can’t do from home or buying essential items.”