Last week National Records Scotland (NRS) released a new report showing recorded deaths from Covid-19 in March, April and May across more than 1000 Scottish “intermediate data zones”.
And of Dumfries and Galloway’s 40 data zones Lockerbie and Mid Annandale posted the highest toll with 11 deaths attributed to the virus – a rate of 220.9 per 100,000 people.
The next highest number for the region was in Rhins North in Galloway, which had three deaths and a rate of 84.4 per 100,000.
Almost half of the region’s 47 Covid-19 deaths were registered in Annandale and Eskdale, where the virus was mentioned on a total of 22 death certificates.
In Dumfries three deaths were registered in the Summerville data zone, which covers Nithside and parts of Summerhill and Maxwelltown. One death was recorded in Troqueer, while no deaths from Covid-19 were registered in Lochside and Lincluden, Dumfries Central, Nunholm, Calside and Georgetown. On the outskirts of Dumfries, the Collin data zone is shown as having two deaths, while Heathhall and Shawhead both registered one death. No deaths were recorded for Locharbriggs or Kingholm.
Elsewhere, Thornhill is shown as recording two deaths, while there was one in Mid Nithsdale and none in Upper Nithsdale. In Galloway as a whole a total of 14 deaths were registered.
Commenting on the figures, a spokesman for Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership said their thoughts were with the family and friends of those who had sadly died and added: “The nature of transmission means that there have inevitably been pockets of infection, and that is reflected in the data which have been produced by NRS. This data reflects cases which have occurred within communities, including those within care homes in Lockerbie – and which in one instance saw the partnership providing short-term staffing support.
“It should be noted, however, that every locality in Dumfries and Galloway has been affected by Covid-19. No community is particularly more likely to be affected, as Covid-19 can emerge anywhere and it should be recognised that no community is in any way immune from the dangers the coronavirus poses.”
He also urged everyone to continue to observe national guidance around social distancing and good hygiene, which he said has likely helped to save hundreds of lives across the region.
