No increase in coronavirus cases in Borders overnight

That’s the second time in five days that there’s been no increase in cases overnight.

The 284 cases diagnosed here are among 12,266 nationwide, up from 12,097 yesterday.

Across the UK, 186,599 people have tested positive for coronavirus, up 4,339 on the day before.

It’s well over a month now since the first two cases of the disease were confirmed in the Borders on Wednesday, March 11, and over two 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 last 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; 272 on Tuesday; 279 on Wednesday; 281 on Friday; 283 on Saturday; and 284 yesterday.

There’s been no increase in the number of deaths claimed by the disease in the region for four days, and it remains at 31.

It’s now been over a month since the first five fatalities here attributable to the virus, also known as Covid-19 were announced on Monday, March 30.

That figure 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 lastMonday; 30 on Wednesday; and 31 on Thursday.

They are among 1,576 coronavirus patients killed by the disease in Scotland so far, up five from 1,571 overnight, and 28,446 UK-wide, a rise of 315 on the day before.

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 250, but is still well below the two others, Lanarkshire and Lothian being up to 1,492 and 2,113 respectively.

Altogether, 99 Scots are in intensive care receiving treatment for coronavirus, with 91 having tested positive and the others awaiting results.

Some 61,696 tests for the illness have been carried out in Scotland so far, with 49,430 returning negative results.

Giving an update today, Scottish Government minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that no end to the current lockdown is in sight, saying: “It is very unlikely that any change this week will be possible.

“Although we are making real and significant progress, and that is definitely the case, the numbers still being infected by the virus remain too high right now to make any meaningful change without risking the virus running quickly out of control again.

“All things considered, and while decisions are yet to be formally taken, it is very likely that on Thursday I will be asking you to stick with lockdown for a bit longer.

“Now I know you understand why that is the case, but I also know it is really hard, and I know that, even as you comply with these measures, you do want to see light at the end of the tunnel.

“Today and tomorrow, building on the paper we published a week and a half ago, I want to share with you some of the work we are doing to make sure that we will be in a position to make changes to the lockdown restrictions just as soon as the evidence tells us that it is safe to do so.

“This is work we will, of course, be seeking to align as far as possible with the other UK nations, but, as I’ve said before, our primary task is to make sure that we are making the right decisions, at the right pace, for Scotland.

“In a few weeks, I desperately want to be standing here at this podium telling you about the steps we are able to take to get back to a semblance of normality.

“My big worry is that if we ease up now, I won’t be able to do that, so please stay at home, except for essential purposes like shopping for food or getting medicines.

“What I am asking you today is please make sure we keep that light at the end of the tunnel on, and let’s all keep making sure that it gets brighter with every single day that passes. Please don’t risk extinguishing that light by easing up to quickly.”