Covid numbers in Lanarkshire are ‘the worst’ since the pandemic began

Latest figures show 8500 tested positive in January

January was the worst month of the pandemic in Lanarkshire so far.

More than 8500 people tested positive for coronavirus last month and for only the second time more than 200 people died.

The total number of Covid-19 deaths in the region have more than doubled in the last three months while the number of people testing positive has almost tripled in the same period.

Sunday, January 24, was the worst single day after 15 people died from coronavirus – two more than the previous highest on November 28.

New cases are continuing to fall but an average of almost 200 people per day tested positive last week.

On Monday First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed a further 167 people in Lanarkshire had tested positive – the lowest daily figure since December 28.

Daily figures are usually lower at the weekend but the total number of cases in the health board area has fallen for the third consecutive week after 1398 were confirmed last week – down 15 per cent. However, last month saw a record number of positive tests across the region after 8567 people were confirmed to have coronavirus – 67 more than October.

The total number of people who died from coronavirus last month won’t be known for another few days but 217 had been registered up to Saturday which is 14 more than November, the only previous month in which more than 200 people had died. In total, 33,085 positive Covid-19 tests have been recorded in Lanarkshire and 1031 have died.