COVID death in region

A COVID-19 death has been recorded in Perth and Kinross for the first time since July.

The victim, who was over the age of 85, was reported to have been a patient at St Margaret’s Community Hospital in Auchterarder.

The hospital was closed for a week to new admissions last Thursday. It confirmed on September 3 that it would reopen to new admissions on today (Friday, September 4).

The death was revealed on Wednesday on the Public Health Scotland website.

It brings the total number of deaths recorded in the NHS Open Data statistics in Perth and Kinross to 47.

This data records confirmed cases and differs to figures that were being released weekly by the National Records of Scotland where COVID-19 was recorded on a death certificate.

Those figures are now only being released monthly, with the next report due next week.

That had recorded 70 COVID-19 deaths up until August 9, with none since mid July.

The total number of confirmed cases in Perth and Kinross is now 510.

Perthshire South and Kinross-shire MSP Roseanna Cunningham said:“This is very sad news indeed and my condolences go out to the family of the person who has died.

“It should also serve as a reminder to us all that COVID is still very much present and it is down to each and every one of us to ensure that we are rigorous in following FACTS - wear a Face covering when required, Avoid crowded places, Clean hands and surfaces, Two metre distancing, and Self-isolate and book a test if we experience symptoms.”