AREA HAS HIGHEST VIRUS RATE IN COUNTRY
A Johnstone community has emerged as one of the worst Covid-19 hotspots in Scotland, despite efforts to contain the virus.
Johnstone South East, which flanks Elderslie, has seen the rate soar to the equivalent of nearly 500 cases per 100,000 people.
It ’ s the only area in Renfrewshire that makes it into the highest outbreak level of above 400 cases.
The cases were almost double the prevalence of number two on the Renfrewshire list, Paisley North.
The latest Scottish Government statistics reveal there were 18 confirmed cases in Johnstone South East last week.
The town’s MSP Tom Arthur said the figures can be variable week by week and insisted the area should not be stigmatised.
Mr Arthur, who represents Renfrewshire South, said: “What I want is better support and additional
resource for areas still finding it a challenge to get virus numbers down.
“I do have concerns and raised a question in Parliament on Thursday about health and inequality.
“What I want to avoid is parts of the central belt being under significant restrictions at level four when other parts of Scotland are down to level two.
“The virus seems to be a bit more stubborn in Renfrewshire and we don’t want to see a new type of health inequality.”
He said data could not reveal whether the Johnstone outbreak was in 18 different homes, or a smaller cluster.
In December, Scotland’s first asymptomatic testing cent re was set up in Johnstone Town Hall.
More than 5,000 people attended and it found 15 people who returned a positive test result for covid, but had no symptoms.
Mr Art hur added: “Hopefully, the vaccine is going to get us there and the efficacy of it preventing transmission is really encouraging .
“It is really important to see how things go over the coming weeks, as schools gradually return.
“With regards to Johnstone, we should look at the longterm trend, rather than a seven-day figure.
“If there is anything in the neighbourhood that seems problematic, we will look into that.”
Some areas of Renfrewshire have zero or one live case of the virus, including Howwood, Bridge of Weir, Lochwinnoch and Paisley’s Dykebar area.