Cases still surging in Glasgow

Another increase as city heads for level- three lockdown rules

CORONAVIRUS cases in Glasgow have increased again over the past seven days. The statistics for the city show positive tests for cases in every local community.

In the seven days up to October 24 there were 1953 new positive cases, compared to 1810 for the previous seven days.

It is the highest total the city has recorded – as weekly figures continue to rise.

However, since a high during the past seven days of 367, the number of positive cases has fallen in each of the past five days.

The area with the highest number of cases was Baillieston East with 41 new positive test results.

Craigend/ Ruchazie was second highest with 40 and Darnley West third with 39.

There were 29 local areas with more than 20 cases in the past seven days.

No local area in the statistical breakdown had no new cases – but some had between one and four, and 10 areas had five positive cases in the week.

The Scottish Government and its advisers use a range of measures when looking at how high the virus is and what measures need to be put in place to slow the spread.

One of the measures is a rolling seven- day average usually over at least three weeks.

For Glasgow City the numbers have increased over the past four weeks from 1205 in the week up to September 27 to 1953 recorded over the latest seven- day period.

The rate of positive cases per 100,000 population is another measure used to analyse the patterns of the spread.

For Glasgow, the latest rate over seven days is 308. One week earlier it was 285.

The area with the lowest number of positive cases was Maryhill West which had four or fewer and a rate per 100,000 of between 30- 49.

The other lowest areas with a rate of 50 to 74 per 100,000 were Anniesland East with four or fewer and Hillhead with five cases.

Partick and Sighthill also had four or fewer but a rate of between 75 and 99 per 100,000 population.

The area with the highest number, Baillieston East, saw cases almost double increasing to 41 from 22 the previous week.

The most significant drop was in the area which has previously been the highest, City Centre East, where cases halved to 29 from 58 the previous week.

Glasgow is likely to be put in level three of coronavirus restrictions when the new strategy takes effect next Monday.

There are five levels – from zero, the lowest, to four, which is similar, but not identical, to a full lockdown.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that currently level three is broadly what is in place in Glasgow and the rest of the central belt.

She added: “There may be no immediate changes. We are not going to take unnecessary risks.”

Glasgow City Council chief executive Annemarie O’Donnell briefed councillors that it is expected the city will go into level three.

Council leader Susan Aitken later said she wanted to “ensure that restrictions in Glasgow go no further than level three.”

She continued: “Slipping towards level four would bring no relief to those already struggling with the impact of existing restrictions on hospitality, or those not able to share time with family and friends.

“We know level four is being considered for some parts of the region.”

The latest daily report showed 1122 new positive cases of coronavirus – 428 were in Greater Glasgow, 274 in Lanarkshire, 105 in Lothian and 97 in Ayrshire and Arran.

There were 1052 people in hospital, up 36, and there were 90 in intensive care, up 4.

There was one new death.