Number of coronavirus cases in Borders nearing 300 after three more confirmed today

Three more cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Borders today, May 13, taking the total for the region to 297.

They are among 13,929 nationwide, up from 13,763 yesterday.

Across the UK, 226,463 people have tested positive for the disease, up 3,403 on the day before.

It’s just 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 well 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 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 yesterday; 294 yesterday; and 297 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 254, but is still well below the two others, Lanarkshire and Lothian being up to 1,721 and 2,428 respectively.

The death toll claimed by coronavirus in the Borders now stands at 32.

That follows the first fatality in the region among those to have tested positive for the disease since one reported a fortnight ago tomorrow, May 14, being confirmed yesterday.

Figures issued by the National Records of Scotland, 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 Sunday, however.

It’s now been almost a month and a half since the first five fatalities among Covid-19 patients 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; and 32 yesterday, May 12.

They are among 1,973 coronavirus patients killed by the disease in Scotland so far, up 61 from 1,912 overnight, and 32,692 UK-wide, a rise of 627 on the day before.

Altogether, 70 Scots are in intensive care receiving treatment for coronavirus, with 68 having tested positive and the others awaiting results.

Hospitals in the region are currently treating 26 patients confirmed to have Covid-19 and another 12 suspected to be infected but waiting on test results.

Some 77,750 tests for the illness have been carried out in Scotland so far, with 63,821 turning out negative.

Giving an update in Edinburgh today on the outbreak, Scottish Government first minister Nicola Sturgeon told a Holyrood question time session: “There have been 13,929 positive cases confirmed, an increase of 166 since yesterday.

“A total of 1,534 patients are in hospital with confirmed or suspected cases of the virus. That is a decrease of 84 from yesterday.

“A total of 70 people were in intensive care last night with confirmed or suspected Covid-19. That is a decrease of 11 since yesterday.

“In the past 24 hours, 61 deaths have been registered of patients confirmed as having the virus.

“That takes the total number of deaths in Scotland under that daily measurement to 1,973. However, the National Records of Scotland has just published its latest, more detailed weekly report.

“Unlike the daily figures, its figures include cases where no formal test had been carried out but in which the virus is entered on the death certificate as a suspected cause of death or a contributory factor.

“The latest publication covers the period up to three days ago. At that point, according to our daily figures, 1,862 deaths had been registered of people who had tested positive for the virus, but today’s report shows that by Sunday the total number of registered deaths linked to the virus, confirmed and presumed, was 3,213.

“Of those deaths, 415 were registered in the seven days up to Sunday. I can report that that is a decrease of 110 from the week before and a decrease of 244 from two weeks previously.

“Deaths in care homes made up 57% of all deaths linked to the virus last week. That is a slightly lower proportion than the previous week. Also, the total number of Covid deaths in care homes, although it is still too high, fell to 238 from 314 the week before.

“I readily acknowledge that no trend in statistics can ever comfort the many people who have lost a loved one to this virus. My thoughts and sympathies are with each and every one of them.

“However, this week’s figures offer further and perhaps sustained signs of hope.

“The number of Covid-related deaths, although it is far too high, has fallen for a second week in a row, and the number of deaths in care homes has also reduced for a second week.

“That does not mean that we can relax yet. There are still too many cases, the reproduction rate of the virus is still higher than we would like and we continue to learn more about the people who are most vulnerable to the disease.

“The trends that we are now seeing are positive. If transmission rates continue to fall, we will be able to gradually relax the lockdown restrictions.

“However, we will continue to err on the side of caution and so, for the moment, the message in Scotland remains the same. Please stay at home except for essential purposes.

“Sticking with that is making a difference, as today’s figures show.

“We are slowing the spread of the virus, we are protecting our National Health Service and we are saving lives.

“We are also bringing forward the time when the restrictions can start to be eased.”