Dumfries and Galloway health chiefs fear second wave of coronavirus cases

Dumfries and Galloway has recorded the lowest number of coronavirus cases in mainland Scotland.

But health chiefs have warned that the low infection rate means there is “very little immunity” among residents.

And they are urging people to guard against complacency and maintain social distancing rules.

A spokesman for NHS Dumfries and Galloway said: “We are still in a precarious position with regards to Covid-19.

“This is a highly transmissible virus with potentially devastating consequences and we have a population in Dumfries and Galloway which has had very little exposure and therefore has very little immunity.

“We have seen how quickly the virus can spread, despite best preventative efforts.”

He added: “We know that rates of coronavirus have been relatively low in Dumfries and Galloway but this isn’t the case everywhere else in the country.“

National Records of Scotland data shows that the region has experienced 300 Covid cases and 47 deaths since the start of the crisis.

The NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde board area has been worst hit, seeing 4,957 confirmed cases for the period up until July 28.

Dumfries and Galloway become the only mainland Scottish health board area to report no new Covid-19 cases this week. The area joins communities in the Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney as the only board areas where none were uncovered.

The news was welcomed by south of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth who said: “It’s encouraging that cases continue to fall in our region and, while our rurality makes a big difference, so too do our actions.

“We’ve seen first-hand in Dumfries and Galloway that this terrible virus is still out there and we cannot become complacent. While the further lifting of lockdown measures this week will be welcomed by many, we must take precautions to keep ourselves and our communities safe. We need to continue to act responsibly and use common sense.

He added: “The fall in cases will be little consolation for families who sadly lost loved ones to Covid-19.

"We must never forget this pandemic has killed many people in our region and ultimately saving lives is the most important consideration in everything we do.”

The health board spokesman said: “We would ask people to please consider the risks before travelling outside the region and to continue to observe measures that we know can reduce your chances of catching the virus: face coverings in enclosed spaces, avoiding crowded places, cleaning hands and surfaces regularly, two metre physical distancing and self-isolate and and book a test if you develop coronavirus symptoms.”