Warning for East Renfrewshire as cases spike

People living in Barrhead and Neilston could be plunged back into Level 3 restrictions as the number of new covid cases continues to rise.

The Scottish Government confirmed last week it was closely monitoring the local authority area after the number of new covid cases rocketed.

It has 75.4 positive cases per 100,000, according to the latest seven-day figures.

The surge means East Renfrewshire has overtaken Moray, which was held in Level 3 restrictions as a result of infection levels on the East Coast.

According national guidelines, council areas should only have Level 2 status if the infection rate is below 50.

Yesterday, Deputy First Minister John Swinney told BBC’s Good Morning Scotland:“The East Renfrewshire rise has been very swift in taking its course.

“If there is a necessity to take action to apply restrictions once again we will unfortunately have to do that.

“We made it very clear, as we set out the basis of moving from Level Three to Level Two that there may be circumstances where we have to apply further restrictions to make sure that we contain any outbreaks that take place.”

In the week to May 15 a total of 84 new cases were recorded in the region.

On May 12 alone, 19 new covid cases were identified.

It is currently unknown if the Indian variant of the virus is driving the increased infections.

It is understood public health officials are investigating the causes of the rapidly changing situation in the area.

People without symptoms of the virus continue to be encouraged to get tested at the drop in facility at Cowan Park 7s Pavilion, Barrhead.

A second mobile testing unit has also opened at the Woodfarm Education Centre in Thornliebank.

Both are open to anyone who lives or works in East Renfrewshire and aim to identify people who have covid and who may unknowingly be passing it to people around them.

To date, 225 people have died of Covid-19 in East Renfrewshire since the beginning of the pandemic.

The last deaths - three in total - were recorded on the week of March 22.