Testing operation to halt Covid rise in South Side
ABIG public health operation is underway to try to contain a rise in Covid cases in the South Side of Glasgow. Thousands of letters are being delivered today to homes in the communities where cases are rising, urging people to get tested and if they are positive to isolate to break the chain of infection.
It comes after officials noticed an increase in positive cases that is causing serious concern.
Cases in the city more than doubled in a week this month from 27 cases per 100,000 people to 58 per 100,000.
In the last week the figure is now higher and is around 70 per 100,000 population.
The areas targeted are G41 and G42 in the South Side of the city.
The letter urges people to get tested at the overflow carpark on Barrland
Street opposite the Tramway from Monday to Saturday between 10am and 5pm, or daily between 10am and 5pm at the Glasgow Central Mosque in the Gorbals.
It states rapid testing kits can also be collected from Sandyford South East, 205 Calder Street, 10am until 5pm daily or at the Glasgow Central Mosque and Barrland Street testing sites in Pollokshields.
Scotland as a whole is at around 25 per 100,000 people, which allowed Nicola Sturgeon to announce the further relaxation of lockdown, moving down to Level 2 from Monday.
However, in Moray where cases are above 100 per 100,000 the area will stay in Level 3 until numbers there are brought down.
In Glasgow the latest figures show there has been 449 new cases recorded in the last seven days.
The highest areas were Pollokshields
West at 34 new cases which is equal to 729 per 100,000, Pollokshields East, where 35 cases are equal to 694 per 100,000. Cases are also high in Central Easterhouse at 545 per 100,000 with 13 new cases.
There are another eight areas in Glasgow where it is higher than 200 per 100,000 and 15 where it is above 100 per 100,000.
There are however 82 local areas where the virus is considered suppressed, and which recorded between zero and two cases in a week.
It raises concerns that Glasgow could be subject to tougher restrictions than the rest of the country if the outbreak in the South Side is not halted.
The letters to residents were sent by the city council and the health board, signed by leader of the council Susan Aitken and director of public health, Linda de Caestecker.
Aitken said: “The rise in Covid cases on the South Side should be a warning to all Glaswegians that we’re not out of the woods yet.
“For some time now, we have been on a really encouraging path and as restrictions ease, it may be tempting to stretch the current guidance.
“But it is vital that we remain patient and stick to the pace of change the public health advice requires of us.
“Asymptomatic testing is so important in containing this outbreak and even if you haven’t any symptoms, I would urge all those living in the affected area, which includes myself, to get tested as soon as possible.
“We have testing sites across the city and other locations where testing kits are available for collection – they can also be ordered online. For the sake of our city and the well-being of its people, please stick to the rules, get tested and let’s continue on our path to recovery.”
Sturgeon said of the outbreak: “We are seeing an increase in cases in Glasgow just now and, amidst concern about the so-called Indian variant, we are monitoring it very closely.”
The rise in cases should be a warning that we’re not done yet