THE new variant of Covid-19 originally reported from the South of England is circulating widely in Scotland, it has been revealed.
It has also been announced that 10 residents have died and 43 staff at a care home in Fife had contracted coronavirus.
NHS Fife has said it was aware of a recent outbreak of confirmed Covid-19 cases associated with Mossview Care Home in Lochgelly. A total of 25 residents tested positive for the virus.
“Sadly, 10 people died after contracting Covid-19 and our thoughts are with their loved ones at this difficult time,” said NHS Fife.
The home has now reopened after 14 days without a positive case.
The news comes as 48 more deaths were announced of people who have tested positive to the virus, a drop from the previous day’s total of 61.
The number of new cases was again 895 with 5.9% of 17,940 new tests recorded as positive.
Those being treated in intensive care with Covid-19 now total 117, a drop of six from the previous day, while 1729 people are in hospital with the virus, a reduction of 65 from the day before.
The Scottish Government has also announced there is evidence the new variant of Covid-19 originally reported from the South of England is circulating widely in Scotland. Data from Public Health Scotland shows that of the new cases reported from the UK Government Laboratories on January 2, 47.5% had the profile of the new variant compared with 42.8% reported on December 28.
Meanwhile, 786,427 people in Scotland have received the first dose of the Covid vaccination and 10,332 have received their second dose. This includes 93% of people over 80 living in the community, 99% of residents in older adult care homes, 93% of residents in all care homes, 89% of staff in older adult care homes and 77% of staff in all care homes.
It also includes 272,365 frontline health and social care workers, exceeding the initial target of 230,000 staff provided by health boards.
Over half (56%) of the population aged 75-79 living in the community and 20% of people aged 70-74 living in the community have now received the jag.
In England, a “surge” testing site has been opened in Worcester after the South African variant was detected in the community. The cases have not been traced back to international travel.
The UK’s R number is currently estimated at between 0.7 and 1.0.
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