1 IN 16 HIT BY COVID SURGE
Scotland harder hit than the other home nations
COVID infections are continuing to escalate with an estimated 334,000 Scots – around one in 16 people – now suffering from it.
It is an increase on the one in 17 estimate from the week before and the Office for National Statistics says it could currently even be as high as one in14.
The ONS weekly figures from July 7 show incidences of Covid on the rise throughout the UK but the Scottish figures remain marginally worse than the other home nations. It is the eighth week in a row Scottish infection levels have been the highest in the UK.
Cases have been rising steadily since May 28 when around one in 40 people had the virus in Scotland.
In England, the infection levels are one in 19, with both Wales and Northern Ireland around one in 17.
Sarah Crofts, head of analytical outputs for the Covid-19 Infection Survey, said: “Infections are showing no signs of decreasing, with rates approaching levels last seen in March this year at the peak of the Omicron BA.2 wave.
“Rates have continued to increase across the UK and among all age groups.”
The most recent Public Health Scotland figures also show around a fifth of all cases are re-infections.
The increases in numbers affected with the virus is putting a real strain on the NHS, in particular with the numbers of staff absent with Covid.
Ambulances are queuing for hours outside hospitals, some hospitals are full to capacity and health boards have been issuing pleas for patients to stay away from A&E unless it is a matter of life and death.
Last night, Labour repeated calls for the Scottish Government to deliver a Covid resilience strategy and seek to speed up and expand the current booster programme.
Health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “Covid rates are rising by the day but the SNP are burying their head in the sand. It is a betrayal of the most vulnerable to just pretend this isn’t happening.
“Scottish Labour have set out a plan to keep people safe and protect our NHS. The Scottish Government must act now before things get even worse, starting with speeding up and expanding the booster programme.”