Covid cases in East Dunbartonshire TRIPLE

For the seven days up to December 18, positive 
cases in the area had fallen to around 90 in 100,000.

But on Tuesday, the seven-day positive rate, based on people tested between December 27 and January 2, had soared to 265.1, according to the latest data from Public Health 
Scotland (PHS).

The total number of 
positive cases locally was 288.

The worst affected areas were listed as Auchinairn and Bishopbriggs with a seven-day positive rate of 
more than 400 per 100,000 population.

But huge swathes of Milngavie and Bearsden weren’t far behind with a seven-day positive rate of between 200 and 399 per 100,000 
population. These were East Clober and Mains Estate, Kessington East, 
Keystone and Dougalston, Kilmardinny West, North Castlehill and Thorn, and Westerton East and West.

Meanwhile, Kessington West, Kilmardinny East, South Castlehill, West Clober and Torrance and Balmore had between 100 to 199.

The number of coronavirus-related deaths has also risen locally to 201.

A national lockdown came into force this week in a bid to suppress the soaring number of cases of covid. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the current situation as a race between getting people vaccinated and the virus spiralling out of control.

Scotland hopes to accelerate its vaccine rollout programme if supplies of the jab allow it to do so, she said, adding that the aim was to vaccinate everyone over the age of 50 and younger people with underlying health conditions by the start of May.

Abbotsford Care Home in Bearsden was the first in Greater Glasgow and Clyde to receive a covid-19 vaccination. Residents began being innoculated on Thursday, December 17.

As the Herald went to press on Wednesday, NHS Greater Glasgow said they would confirm an exact timeframe of the rollout of the vaccine as soon as possible.