High rate could keep area in strictest level
Stirling could face remaining in the strictest level of coronavirus restrictions if case rates across the region remain stubbornly high.
The warning was issued by Deputy First Minister John Swinney earlier this week as the three local authorities in the Forth Valley health board area recorded the highest three average rates in the period up to March 5.
In the latest statisics from Public Health Scotland, Clackmannanshire is revealed having highest prevelance in Scotland with a average of 145.5 cases per 100,000 people.
Stirling is in third place, with an average rate of 113.6 per 100,000 people, behind only Clackmannanshire and neighbouring Falkirk, which registered 122.4 per 100,000.
The high totals across the three council areas also means that Forth Valley remains the region with the highest average case total across Scotland’s health boards and is the only one to record a level higher than 100 per 100,000.
Forth Valley recorded an average rate of 123.6 - well above next-highest Lanarkshire at 91.6 and the Scottish average of 62.7.
At a press briefing on Monday, Mr Swinney said that ministers and health officials would make “judgments based on the prevalence of the virus” when deciding where to place certain areas in the levels system.
The geographic system is set to be reintroduced across Scotland from April 26 as part of the route out of lockdown, with the country currently under the full Level Four restrictions.
Mr Swinney said: “If you look at the case numbers across the country in rates per 100,000, there is quite a broad range between some areas which have very low levels of virus prevalence and some, such as Clackmannanshire and Stirling, which are at the higher end of the spectrum.
“There are a number of examples of the approaches being taken there in relation to community testing that is perhaps identifying more cases and we’re looking very carefully at all of the data that underpins these factors.
“We are also considering whether or not we should be applying levels across broader areas than local authority areas because in places such as Clackmannanshire, there is a lot of movement through there into the boundaries of neighbouring areas.
“We’ll make those judgments based on the local circumstances that prevail.”
Stirling SNP councillor Susan McGill, who sits on NHS Forth Valley’s board - said she was hopeful of case numbers here fall to at least or below the national average within the next ten days.
Councillor McGill said: “Regarding Covid rates in Stirling and Forth Valley area the understanding of the high rates is that there is a time lag relating to the new variant of around four weeks and we should be down to at least the national average or better within the next 10 days.
“I am informed that overall testing including asymptomatic is amongst the highest in Scotland that is adding to our test positivity rate that remains too high for the Stirling area.
“The rate has fallen this week and is cautiously expected to continue to decline.
“It is important for everyone to remember to comply with F.A.C.T.S.
“The virus is spread by people - if people do not mix together then the virus dies.
“Staff within the health care sector have been working in exceptional circumstances and doing a fantastic job.”