Months punctuated by series of highs and lows
The number of people dying from Covid-19 in the Forth Valley area was highest in care homes, according to new figures. Data showed 59 per cent of all fatalities attributed to the virus in Scotland in the week to Sunday took place in care homes. In Stirling, the figures revealed a further two coronavirus deaths had been registered at care homes in that period - taking the number of local care home deaths to 14.
May 13, 2020
A mobile coronavirus testing unit was set up at Stirling’s PEAK leisure centre by the Army. The unit tested frontline workers in a bid to help more return to work quicker. As part of the fight against the virus, the Ministry of Defence was drafted in by the UK government to set up and run testing sites across the country.
May 15, 2020
Day-trippers were warned to stay away from Stirling’s rural beauty spots after reports of increased numbers of visitors. Bosses from the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the region’s MP and MSP and local councillors pleaded with the public to avoid areas of natural beauty after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon eased restrictions on daily exercise.
A further five deaths were recorded as a result of Covid-19 in Stirling, according to the latest data. The figures from the National Records of Scotland revealed that a total of 49 coronavirus deaths had taken place in Stirling up until May 10. Three of those deaths were recorded as having taken place at care homes.
May 20, 2020
Residents died after a coronavirus outbreak at a care home in Tullibody. HC-One which runs The Orchard Care Home on Lynchgate Road said residents had died after contracting coronavirus but declined to confirm the number.
Cops in Stirling sent home more than 850 people in two weeks after they were caught flouting the coronavirus lockdown. In figures released by the force, Forth Valley Division officers told 873 people in the Stirling sub-division to go home, between May 1 and May 13, after informing them of the rules. A further 178 people had to be formally dispersed, according to police, after failing to heed the first warnings. Nobody was dispersed through “reasonable force” and 46 fixed penalty notices were issued to those ignoring the lockdown. Since April 6, two people were arrested in Stirling for going against the lockdown rules.
May 22, 2020
The coronavirus lockdown was to be gradually lifted after Nicola
Sturgeon announced a “phased approach” to easing restrictions. The First Minister revealed the Scottish Government’s ‘route map’ out of lockdown. The plan meant that Stirling residents would be able to meet friends and relatives in parks and gardens with social distancing – as long as the country continues to move forward in the fight against Covid-19.
May 29, 2020
Sports clubs and businesses were preparing to get back to business after the coronavirus lockdown was eased. As part of the first phase of the Scottish Government’s ‘route map’ out of lockdown a number of restrictions were lifted, meaning that leisure activities - including golf, tennis, bowls and fishing - were permitted subject to appropriate hygiene and social distancing. More businesses were also able to open - including drive-through food outlets - with McDonald’s in Stirling set to follow the advice.
The Scottish Government revealed its new ‘Test and Protect’ plan to control the spread of coronavirus.
June 12, 2020
Covid-19 claimed the lives of 54 people across Stirling, according to new figures. Stats from the National Records of Scotland showed one person died in the area over the last week. A total of 4000 people across Scotland had died. Half of the Stirling’s total deaths have happened in hospital, with the other half being split between care homes (19) and fatalities at home or in other noninstitutional settings (8).
June 24, 2020
A Stirling firm was on the frontline of the global fight for a coronavirus vaccine. Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services signed a supply agreement with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca in a deal labelled “monumental”. Known as AZD1222, the vaccine was to be used in Astrazeneca’s clinical trials which were taking place across the UK sites.
June 26, 2020
NHS Forth Valley staff and patients contributed to a major breakthrough in the treatment of Covid-19. Since April 10 staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital had been taking part in a UK-wide trial known as Recovery, designed to test the effectiveness of existing medicines such as steroids, antivirals and antimalarial drugs on coronavirus.
June 29, 2020
Business owners in Stirling expressed their relief after a handful of city shops re-opened. Traders were forced to close their doors at the outset of the coronavirus outbreak in March, but doors were thrown open as Scotland’s lockdown was further eased.
July 10, 2020
Families were finally able to meet up in indoor spaces as Stirling took another step out of lockdown. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that
Scotland would enter Phase 3 of the government’s “route map” out of lockdown, meaning that households could meet up to four other households at a time, with maximum gatherings of up to 15 people. In addition, households could also meet up to two other households indoors, with a total of up to eight people, including overnight stays. Non-essential shops inside shopping centres were also able to re-open.
A handful of landlords across rural Stirling were breathing a sigh of relief after pouring their first pints in almost four months. Pubs with outdoor beer gardens were finally able to throw open their doors after being forced to close for 15 weeks throughout the lockdown.
July 17, 2020
Churches, chapels and mosques welcomed back congregations for the first time in four months but worshippers were not permitted to sing together with chanting also banned.
July 30, 2020
It was announced that Stirling’s school pupils were to return to the classroom full-time in August. Nicola Sturgeon revealed that some councils may opt for a phased return to schools but that she expected full-time teaching to be in place by August 18. Pupils would not have to adhere to the two metre social distancing advice, but teachers and staff were being encouraged to promote social distancing.
August 4, 2020
School pupils across Stirling awoke to their exam results. In strange circumstances, pupils were given their grades without sitting the exams for the very first time after they were scrapped as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Instead, students were graded based on teacher estimates. However, there was controversy as an estimated 125,000 pupils’ grades were downgraded by a national moderation system.
August 28, 2020
Stirling was at the centre of efforts to speed up coronavirus testing after a £6.7 million deal with the Scottish Government. City firm LumiraDx were to make 300 rapid testing machines capable of turning around Covid-19 tests in just 12 minutes. The firm, who work out of Manor Farm Business Park, also agreed to provide a minimum of 500,000 tests as part of the deal – with the test strips for the machines being made at the company’s facility in Stirling.
May 8, 2020