Scotland Covid warning: Scottish regions become UK Covid HOTSPOTS – where are cases?
Denise Welch and Kaye Adams clash over covid restrictions
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Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has cultivated a cautious approach to the Covid pandemic. While her counterparts over the border have hesitated with disease mitigation rules, she has stayed the course. But while this has worked for Ms Sturgeon in the past, it hasn’t stopped the Delta variant from bleeding into Scotland, which has now become a secondary Delta hotspot.
Where are Delta cases in Scotland?
The deadly Delta variant initially established dominance in England, around the northwest.
Areas bordering Manchester, most notably Blackburn and Darwen with 491.7 cases per 100,000, have borne the brunt of the latest “wave”.
Cases remain largely confined to the region and continue to drive England’s infection rates upwards.
Data shows 172 local areas have reported rates exceeding 100 cases per 100,000 people.
Recent movement across the border means England is no longer the Delta hotspot as some areas in Scotland have recently surpassed these totals.
Figures show the country has seen tens of thousands of new cases in a matter of days, with 15,918 in the seven days to June 24.
Five areas have overtaken the worst-effected regions in England and now make up half of the most infected in the UK.
Areas with the UK’s highest Covid rates include:
- East Lothian: 595.8 per 100,000
- Dundee: 587.3 per 100,000
- Hyndburn: 547.9 per 100,000
- Midlothian: 520.2 per 100,000
- Edinburgh: 503.5 per 100,000
- Blackburn with Darwen: 491.7 per 100,000
- Rossendale: 435.1 per 100,000
- Manchester: 434.3 per 100,000
- Burnley: 430.7 per 100,000
- Salford: 416.1 per 100,000
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Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said cases could continue to rise in the country.
Officials show many of these cases had blossomed in young men under 40, with the skewed figures likely reflecting indoor gatherings for Euro 2020 matches.
But he remained confident in the effectiveness of vaccines, which have weakened the incidence of severe disease and death.
The new figures have prompted First Minister Nicola Surgeon to take similar precautionary steps to Downing Street.
She has also postponed Scotland’s reopening plans, with the next step of her roadmap taking place on July 19.
Unlike her Westminster counterparts, however, “Freedom Day” won’t come until some time later.
Ms Sturgeon hopes to lift all remaining Covid restrictions by August 9 in a cautious move to provide a stable foundation for the eventual return to “normal”.
Mr Yousaf said he wants to avoid going “back to being in a position where we’re re-imposing restrictions.”
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