CORONAVIRUS — Inverclyde Deaths Fall For Third Week In A Row
LATEST weekly figures show there have been three more Covid-19-related deaths of Inverclyde residents.
According to the National Records of Scotland, the area’s official coronavirus-linked death toll rose to 106 in the week ending 17 May.
Thirty-five of the deaths have been in care homes, 60 in hospital and 11 elsewhere in the community.
It’s the third week running that the number of fatalities has fallen; there were four the previous week.
The figures relate to deaths for which Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
Fatalities were at their highest in the week beginning 6 April, when 26 people died, followed by a further 25 the next week.
This was the eighth week in which there were coronavirus-related deaths in Inverclyde.
Deaths per 10,000 people in Inverclyde continue to be higher than all other areas of Scotland at 13.5 per 10,000 compared with the Scottish average of 6.5.
A mobile testing facility operated by the army will be deployed in in Inverclyde on Friday. It can be accessed by anyone over the age of five with symptoms. Applications for tests can be made online.
Inverclyde Council leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: “It is welcome news that we are seeing covid deaths in our area consistently reducing over the past few weeks. Each death is a tragedy and a loss to our community and on behalf of the council I pass on our commiserations and prayers. Families suffering tragedy at this time, whether it is covid-related or another reason, are doubly hit by this because they cannot grieve in the normal way.
“Our area continues to be sitting at a higher level than other areas though the gap is narrowing. The latest data shows that no part of mainland Scotland has been left untouched by coronavirus with the west coast areas accounting for seven of the ten worst-hit so far.
“As we move towards recovery from coronavirus there is a need to examine the support needed across our country as a whole but more crucially the particular needs of regions and individual council areas. We cannot go back to business as usual.
“While our communities continue to be affected by this virus, I would urge residents to stick to the national rules and guidance and if you are experiencing symptoms, however mild, to apply to get tested right away.”
