Highest COVID-19 cases sinceMay
Perth and Kinross has recorded its highest number of COVID-related deaths over a seven-day period since May.
From November 30 to December 6, eight coronavirus fatalities were recorded - the same as between May 11-17.
A total of 98 people have now died in the region due to COVID-19.
The figures provided by National Records of Scotland come as it was announced the region will remain in level three of COVID-19 restrictions for at least another week.
Between November 30 and December 6, the region had 143 new cases at a rate of 94.1 per 100,000 people and a 4.9 per cent test positivity rate.
Those figures are a slight improvement on the previous seven-day period which had 147 new cases at a rate of 96.7 per 100,000 and a 4.9 per cent test positivity rate.
Scottish Water has said its traditional underground drainage system can no longer cope with substantial flooding in Perth and a new solution has to be found.
The body was speaking after it was confirmed blocked drains were to blame for Perth Leisure Pool flooding in August.
Bosses at Scottish Water have previously said the rainfall on August 11/12 “significantly exceeded the capacity of all urban drainage systems”.
And a spokesperson this week told the PA: “Scottish Water and Perth and Kinross Council have worked together in recent years to complete a substantial project which provides a much improved understanding of the complex interactions between sewers, road drains, watercourses and overland flows across the city.
“This is leading on to the development of investment options to address areas at the
greatest risk of sewer and surface water flooding.
“In the longer term, it is not practical or sustainable to deal with this volume of floodwater via traditional underground drainage systems.
“We know that we need to work differently and in partnership to manage stormwater on the surface.
“Significant progress has already been made in the way surface water from new developments is managed and, in the future, we hope to find opportunities to build sustainable drainage into older areas too, potentially bringing wider benefits to the urban environment.”
The statement was made after a radio interview with Mike Robinson, voluntary chairman of Live Active’s board of directors.
He said the boiler room at Perth Leisure Pool - which will be closed until September - was under 15 feet of water.
He was speaking to Heartland FM in his role as chief executive of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, and said: “My office and many offices in Perth - is still recovering from the flooding.
“And looking at our swimming pool, the swimming pool boiler room was under 15 feet of water - just because the drains backed up because they are not big enough to cope with current storm intensity.”
This week he told the PA: “The storms over Perth city centre on August 11 delivered unusually high rainfall within a period of a few hours.
“Subsequently, this brought with it an unprecedented volume of water which overwhelmed the external drainage system and caused the flooding of many properties and businesses in Perth including the plant room at Perth Leisure Pool.”
Residents have been demanding a solution to the flooding problem even before the August storm.
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “The intense rainstorm that affected Perth and other communities on the morning of August 12 significantly exceeded the capacity of all urban drainage systems. At the peak of the storm, almost half of the average monthly rainfall for August fell within the space of an hour, resulting in flooding to a number of properties.
“In urban areas, the causes of flooding are complex because of the interactions between rivers, surface water drainage and combined sewer systems.
“The council and Scottish Water have already carried out an integrated catchment study for Perth to investigate this.
“This is leading on to development of investment options to address areas at the greatest risk of sewer and surface water flooding.
“This study will also form the basis of a future surface water management plan which will, in turn, consider further actions to manage the flood risk.”