LESS than five new cases of COVID-19 were identified in Dumfries and Galloway in the week ending April 4 – down from 29 in the previous week.
And less than five close contacts were identified and asked to self-isolate – down from 97 the week before.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway Chief Executive Jeff Ace said: “It’s fantastic to see case numbers come down to this level.
“It wasn’t that long ago that our COVID-19 numbers had skyrocketed on the back of the more highly transmissible B.1.1.7 variant and we were dealing with hundreds each week.
“Getting down to this kind of level is doubtlessly due to all the efforts and sacrifices made by people since Christmas.
“It’s also possible that we’re starting to see the effects of terrific public uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations.
“It’s important, though, that everyone continues to follow the rules. We appreciate that the rules are gradually changing.
“However, at least until a date currently set at April 26, the national instruction is to stay local, which means everyone within the region remaining within Dumfries and Galloway and not travelling elsewhere – unless for exceptional reasons.”
A total of 3138 PCR COVID-19 tests were carried out in the week ending April 4, down slightly from the 3570 in the previous seven days.
As at 03/03/2021, the overall 7 day positivity rate was 1.3 per 100,000, whereas in the week ending 27/03/2021 it was 20.2 per 100,000.
There is evidence that people identified as close contacts of cases are developing COVID-19.
Social interactions have been the main route where transmission has been identified.
