Two more Covid-19 cases take total for Borders to 349

Two new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Borders after a fortnight without any increase in positive test results, according to the latest figures.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Scottish Parliament today, August 12. (Photo by Fraser Bremner/pool/Getty Images)First minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Scottish Parliament today, August 12. (Photo by Fraser Bremner/pool/Getty Images)
First minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Scottish Parliament today, August 12. (Photo by Fraser Bremner/pool/Getty Images)

The cumulative total for confirmed cases here went up by one on Saturday, August 8, to 348 and rose by another one to 349 yesterday, August 11, after having remained static at 347 since Saturday, July 25.

The death toll claimed by the disease, also known as Covid-19, in the region is still at a standstill, however, staying at 74.

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That means over a month has now gone by since the last fatality claimed here by the virus was reported by the National Records of Scotland on Sunday, July 12.

The 74 fatalities for the region cited in figures issued today, taking into account all deaths linked to coronavirus, not just among those previously tested and found to be infected, are among 4,213 nationwide, as of Sunday, measured by those criteria, up five on the week before.

Nationwide, 19,126 people have now tested positive for the disease, up 47 overnight.

It’s now over five months since Scotland’s first official diagnosis of the disease was announced on Sunday, March 1, after spreading across the world from Wuhan in China, with the first two cases in the Borders following on Wednesday, March 11.

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Giving an update on the outbreak to the Scottish Parliament today, August 12, Holyrood first minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Covid has been driven to very low levels in Scotland. That is the reason why schools are able to open this week.

“Schools are going back because we have been successful in reducing Covid rates in the community, but there is no room for complacency.

“Today’s figures show that we are still seeing new cases, and the ongoing cluster in Aberdeen shows that the virus can spread rapidly when it gets the opportunity to do so.

“The situation in Aberdeen reminds us how quickly the virus can take off and how much effort is then required to bring outbreaks under control.

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“It therefore also reminds us that we must, for the country as a whole to make further progress out of lockdown, continue to suppress the virus.

Government has a critical role – indeed, it has the central role – to play in achieving that, but we are, ultimately, all dependent on each other.

“The choices that all of us make as individuals on physical distancing, face masks and washing our hands will decide whether we move forward or backward in our fight against Covid.”