NHS Dumfries & Galloway

New COVID cases fall – but with call to stick to directions

A total of 44 new, additional positive cases of COVID-19 were identified in Dumfries and Galloway in the week ending November 22.

This marked a decrease from 74 in the previous week.

Meanwhile, the number of new, associated close contacts who were advised to self-isolate also declined, down to 265 from 373 in the week before.

People’s adherence to directions based on the region’s current Level 2 status is being credited as having had a significant positive effect on the situation, with thanks extended for all the ongoing efforts and sacrifices.

However, there is still a continuing high degree of risk as we approach the festive period. Amid the prospect of vaccines in coming weeks, people are being urged to stick with the directions around use of face coverings, hand hygiene and around physical distancing and interactions.

Dumfries and Galloway has so far been relatively fortunate in the impact the coronavirus has had. However, lives have very sadly been lost, and the encouragement is for the region not to falter now and put at risk what has been achieved over past months as we move in the next few weeks to what is hoped will be a more positive long-term situation.

A great deal of work is still taking place to try and help limit the spread of COVID, with 3276 tests carried out in the week ending November 22 – down just very slightly on the 3345 the week before.

The locally calculated positivity rate for Dumfries and Galloway is estimated at around 1.5%, and as at 12/11/2020 the overall seven day positivity rate was 30.2 per 100,000 – down markedly from 53.1 the previous week.

Positive COVID-19 cases continue to be present across all four localities of Annandale and Eskdale, Nithsdale, Stewartry and Wigtownshire.

There is evidence of community transmission, and evidence that people identified as close contacts of cases are developing COVID-19.

Amid the recent positive progress, people are urged to continue to stick to the directions and help continue to move the region into a stronger position.