Number of coronavirus cases in Borders up to 345

Today’s figure of 345 is up from 327 cases last Friday, no regional updates having been available in the interim, but that rise is largely down to UK Government tests now being taken into account as well those carried out by NHS Scotland rather than a sudden surge in infections.

The 345 cases of Covid-19, as the disease is also known, confirmed here are among 18,077 nationwide, up 11 overnight.

Across the UK, 300,469 people have tested positive for the disease, up 1,218 on the day before.

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

Following March 11’s initial two diagnoses in the Borders, the number of cases here 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, May 15; 310 on Saturday, May 16; 313 on Sunday, May 17; 316 on Monday, May 18; 317 on Tuesday, May 19; 322 on Wednesday, May 20; 323 on Tuesday, May 26; 325 on Friday, May 29; 326 on Friday, June 5; 327 on Wednesday, June 10; and 345 today, June 18.

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 274, but is still well below the two others, Lanarkshire and Lothian being up to 2,681 and 3,125 respectively.

The death of another coronavirus patient in the Borders has been reported this week, taking the number of lives claimed here by the disease to 39.

That’s the first death among sufferers previously confirmed to have Covid-19 to be reported since Tuesday, June 2.

According to figures issued by the National Records of Scotland on Wednesday, 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 71 as of Sunday, however.

That’s up three from 68 a week ago on Sunday and 33 higher than the Scottish Government daily figure of 38 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; 35 on Tuesday, May 26; 38 on Tuesday, June 2; and 39 on Tuesday.

They are among 2,464 coronavirus patients killed by the disease in Scotland so far, up two overnight, and 42,288 UK-wide, a rise of 135 on the day before.

Altogether, nine Scots are in intensive care receiving treatment for coronavirus, along with another 14 suspected to be infected but awaiting test results.

Nearly 220,200 tests for the illness have been carried out in Scotland so far, with 202,121 turning out negative.

Further changes to lockdown restrictions were announced today by Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Those shielding are now able to go outdoors for exercise, and from tomorrow those shielding can take part in non-contact outdoor activities and can meet one other household, in groups of no more than eight outdoors. Physical distancing and strict hygiene measures must still be followed, however.

From tomorrow, anyone living alone or only with children under 18 can form an extended household group with one other household. That does not apply to households with people shielding, though.

Extended household groups can meet indoors, with overnight stays permitted and without physical distancing, but any other household meetings must remain strictly outdoors and at a 2m distance.

Members of an extended household group should not form similar arrangements with any other households.

From Monday, June 29, some indoor workplaces can reopen, including factories, labs and warehouses, subject to strict physical distancing, hygiene and health and safety guidance, but non-essential offices and call centres should remain closed.

All shops with outdoor entrances and exits can also reopen from June 29.

It remains government advice to wear a face covering in enclosed areas where physical distancing is difficult, such as shops, and from Monday, June 22, it will become mandatory to wear a face covering on all public transport.

A date for the reopening of outdoor hospitality is likely to be announced on July 2.

Announcing those changes, Ms Sturgeon said: “Thank you for the personal sacrifices you’re making to tackle this pandemic.

“You’ve demonstrated remarkable dedication to our national wellbeing. That effort should never be underestimated, and my thanks can never be overstated.

“Because of your actions, we can now, gradually and carefully, change some restrictions.

“In deciding when to implement each measure in our staged approach, we have to think about how a decision in one area affects life in other areas.

“I know for those shielding, the requirement to stay indoors at all times, without meeting up with anyone, has been incredibly tough. I hope that this change to our advice can provide a real improvement to your quality of life, without significantly increasing the risks you face.

“Our extended household groups will allow a grandparent who lives on their own to form a group with another household in their family, a single parent and their children to join with another household for support, and it will allow a non-cohabiting couple, where at least one of them lives alone, to be reunited.

“It will, I hope, help to ease some of the isolation which is one of the cruellest consequences of tackling this virus.

“I appreciate today’s announcement will be hard for the hospitality industry, but I want to give an assurance that we will continue to support preparations for reopening.

“Ultimately, this is a social bargain. The prize for going a bit more carefully now is a recovery that is much more sustainable and will, I hope, allow more normality to be restored to our everyday lives while suppressing the virus.”