Paisley Daily Express

One covid death as rate of daily cases falls to single figures

Statistics plummet as vaccine rollout forges ahead

- EDEL KENEALY

One Renfrewshi­re resident has died of Covid-19 in the past week.

The death was included in statistics released by the National Records of Scotland as it’s revealed the number of covid cases is plummeting locally and the vaccine programme is being extended to those aged 45 and over.

The death toll for Renfrewshi­re now stands at a tragic 522.

But just two deaths in which Covid-19 has been reported on the death certificat­e have occured this month so far.

The fatalities have been registered as Renfrewshi­re records its lowest ever daily figure of new covid cases of this year also.

The local authority area recorded just four new cases on Sunday.

And the daily figure of new cases has not exceeded ten in the past week.

As a result, Renfrewshi­re is now recording an infection rate of 38.5 cases per 100,000 - less than half that recorded just two weeks ago.

The good news comes as the vaccinatio­n programme continues to be rolled out at pace.

A total of 91,679 people have received their first dose of either the Pfizer or Oxford AstraZenec­a jab.

This means that 61.6 per cent of the adult population in Renfrewshi­re now has some protection against the virus.

A further 25,954 people have had their second dose, 17.4 per cent of those eligible for the vaccine.

Now people aged 45 to 49 are being asked to roll up their sleeves as letters inviting them to receive their vaccine are set to drop in letter boxes this week.

Those aged 45 to 49 years will be followed by the 40 to 44 cohort, then 30 to 39 and then 18-29.

Dr Emilia Crighton, deputy director of public health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “We have made great progress in administer­ing more than 550,000 first doses of the vaccine in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and I am hugely grateful to the vaccine delivery teams for how they have responded to this huge logistical challenge.

“Members of the public will be invited when it is their turn to get vaccinated and we ask that they please be patient as we work through the age groups.

“When you are invited forward, we would urge you to take up the opportunit­y to get vaccinated.

“You can get really ill with coronaviru­s at any age.

“The vaccine provides our best way out of the coronaviru­s pandemic and a return, in time, to the things we’ve all missed.”

We have made great progress in adminsteri­ng more than 550,000 first doses in NHSGGC

 ??  ?? Great progress Dr Emilia Crighton
Great progress Dr Emilia Crighton

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