Region’s COVID-19 death toll is over 200
Last week saw 16 deaths
Over 200 people in Perth and Kinross have now died from COVID-19.
Sixteen deaths registered across the region in the week beginning January 25 had the coronavirus listed on the death certificate, according to new figures from the National Records of Scotland.
It was the first time COVID deaths have dropped in Perth and Kinross this year.
But the figure was still the third highest of the pandemic in the region and brings the total number of deaths linked to the pathogen across Perth and Kinross to 209.
The COVID infection rate also continues to drop in the region.
According to Public Health Scotland, the most recent data points to a rate of 113.2 infections per 100,000 people on January 31. That is down from 133.6 the previous week. The number of positive tests fell from 203 to 172 while the proportion of positive tests is now 5.9 per cent, down from 6.5 per cent the week before.
It comes as Nicola Sturgeon revealed the COVID lockdown in Perth and Kinross, and the rest of mainland Scotland, will be extended until at least the start of March.
However, there will be a phased return for some pupils to the region’s schools from Monday, February 22.
It will see a full-time return of early learning and childcare for all children below school age and a full-time return to school for pupils in primaries one to three.
There will also be a part-time return, on a very limited basis, for senior pupils to allow practical work that is necessary for the completion of national qualification courses.
Initially there will be no more than around five to eight per cent of a secondary school roll physically present at any one time for these purposes.
The first minister confirmed the news after a meeting with government ministers and health advisers, with more details and an update to be given in two weeks time.
She also announced tougher supervised quarantine measures will be put in place for anyone who comes to Scotland directly from overseas.
The first minister added she is “cautiously optimistic” that “we may be able to begin looking towards a careful and gradual easing around the start of March”.
The latest announcement comes amid growing concerns that Scotland’s vaccination programme is lagging behind the rest of the UK.
In November health secretary Jeane Freeman said that a million Scots would be vaccinated by the end of January, however latest figures show just 575,897 people had been given the jab.
But the first minster insisted the Scottish Government was “making good, rapid progress” in protecting those who are most at risk from COVID.
She added: “We have been trying to achieve as high an uptake as possible in the top priority groups and we believe we are achieving a higher uptake than elsewhere.”