Covid 19: No deaths in Argyll and Bute since May

No deaths from Covid-19 have been registered in Argyll and Bute since the end of May, according to official government statistics.

Public Health Scotland has confirmed a total of 165 cases of coronavirus in the area up to Tuesday, July 28, with 64 fatalities recorded.

The number of cases per 10,000 people for Argyll and Bute, as of the same date, stands at 19.1 – slightly more than half the national figure.

The numbers are revealed in a report to be considered by the integration joint board (IJB) of Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) at a meeting via Skype on Wednesday.

Dr Nicola Schinaia, associate director of public health, said in the report that the number of cases included data from NHS laboratories and UK Government test sites.

“Scottish Government reported 381 confirmed cases across NHS Highland as of 28th July, equivalent to 11.8/10,000 people,” she added.

“The total number across Scotland was reported to be 18,558, equivalent to 34.1/10,000 people.”

Dr Schinaia added that the population estimates were based on figures from the National Records of Scotland in 2018.

Argyll and Bute was reckoned to have a population of 86,260, compared to more than 235,500 living in the Highland Council area.

He added: “There have been a total of 64 deaths registered involving Covid-19 of Argyll and Bute residents up to the end of week commencing May 25, up to May 31, with no deaths involving Covid-19 registered in the following seven weeks, up to July 19.”

An appendix to the report reveals that gender and age data were available for 162 of the 165 confirmed cases in Argyll and Bute.

The gender balance is almost split straight down the middle, with 82 cases occurring in men and 80 in women.

Just under 40 confirmed cases have been among people aged 75-84, with the age bands of 0-44, 45-54 and 55-64 accounting for just under 30 each.

The 65-74 age group had just over 20, while there were just under 20 cases in those aged 85 and over.

The appendix also states that the highest number of deaths has occurred in the 75-84 age range, while the highest rate of deaths per 10,000 people was in the 85 and over age range.