No increase in coronavirus cases in Borders overnight again, with total remaining at 325 for fourth day running

That standstill statistic follows a rise of two diagnoses on Friday coming after two days without any new cases.

It’s now getting on for three months since the region’s first diagnoses were confirmed on Wednesday, March 11.

The 325 cases confirmed here are among 15,418 nationwide, up from 15,400 yesterday.

Across the UK, 274,762 people have tested positive for the disease, up 1,936 on the day before.

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

The death toll claimed in the region by coronavirus stands at 35, as of last Tuesday, an increase of one on last week. An update is due tomorrow.

Figures issued by the National Records of Scotland last week, taking into account all fatalities attributed to coronavirus and not just among those previously tested and found to be infected, put the death toll for the region at 58 as of last Sunday, however – 24 higher than the Scottish Government figure of 34 at that time.

It’s now over two months since the first five fatalities among Covid-19 patients here were announced on Monday, March 30.

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 on Tuesday, May 12; 34 on Tuesday, May 19; and 35 on Tuesday, May 26.

They are among 2,363 coronavirus patients killed by the disease in Scotland so far, up from 2,362 overnight, and 38,489 UK-wide, a rise of 113 on the day before.

Altogether, 20 Scots are in intensive care receiving treatment for coronavirus, along with another seven suspected to be infected but awaiting test results.

More than 115,000 tests for the illness have been carried out in Scotland so far, with 99,841 coming back negative.

Giving an update in Edinburgh today on the outbreak, Scottish Government first minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “There have been 15,418 positive cases confirmed, an increase of 18 from yesterday.

“A total of 1,046 patients are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19. That represents a total decrease of 27 from yesterday, including an increase of three in the number of confirmed cases.

“A total of 27 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid-19. That is the same as the figure yesterday.

“In the last 24 hours, one death has been registered of a patient confirmed through a test as having Covid-19. That takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,363.

“Of course, we must always remember that these numbers are not simply statistics. They represent unique and irreplaceable individuals whose loss is mourned by many. I want to send my condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to this virus.”

Warning Scots to remain on their guard and continue to exercise caution, she added: “The statistics that I have just read out demonstrate the real progress we have made together against the virus. There are now far fewer people in hospital and in intensive care than at the peak of the outbreak.

“These statistics also demonstrate how fragile that progress is.

“There are still hundreds of people in hospital and suffering from this virus. There are still new infections in many health board areas, and it is still the case that every day, I have to stand here and confirm further loss of life.

“The fact is that the virus is being suppressed, but it has not gone away, and it is still extremely dangerous.

“Our routemap out of lockdown expressly recognises that during phase one, which we entered on Friday, there is still a high risk that the virus is not yet contained.

“We all must understand that and continue to remember it.

“I know that in the last three days, many of you have had long-awaited reunions with family, friends and loved ones. I really hope you enjoyed that and enjoyed the lovely weather too.

“I also know that the vast majority of people stuck to the rules when having those reunions, and I want to thank you sincerely for that.

“However, it is also clear that over the weekend, not everyone stuck to the rules.

“I’m told by the police that on Saturday alone there were 797 dispersals, and that is people being moved on for not complying with the rules. To give some content to that, that 797 is five times higher than the figure the previous Saturday.

“And there were clearly cases where, despite the guidance we have issued, people were driving more than five miles to beauty spots.

“In some cases, people were staying overnight in tents, caravans or motorhomes.

“Some of the early statistics we have from Transport Scotland are especially concerning.

“Overall, transport yesterday was 70% up from the previous Sunday. Transport on Saturday was 60% up on the week before.

“If there is continued evidence of even a minority not abiding by those guidelines and travelling unnecessarily – if people meet up in larger groups or make journeys which risk spreading the virus – we will have to put those restrictions, on group size and travel distance, into law, and we won’t hesitate to do so if we think it is necessary for the collective safety and wellbeing of the nation.

“The progress we have made so far in tackling Covid-19 is not guaranteed and it is not irreversible.

“Cases could increase again. It won’t take too much for that to happen, rather than continuing to decrease, and if that happens, then that will result in more loss of life.

“If all of that happens, restrictions will have to be reimposed, rather than being relaxed. None of us want that, but the only way of avoiding it is for all of us to comply with the rules.

“All of us want to be able to lift more restrictions so that we can meet friends in more normal circumstances, but we can only do this if we keep driving the overall level of Covid infections down, and if we continue to suppress the spread of the virus, and we can only do that, if people continue to stick to the rules.

“If we all stick to these rules, we are helping to suppress this virus, but if even just a few of you don’t stick to these rules, we are providing a chance for the virus to spread more quickly and to spread to different parts of the country.

“We need to continue to do the right thing and to do right by each other.

“Let’s stick together and let’s all do the right thing for the benefit of ourselves and each other.”