More people have tragically lost their lives from coronavirus related illnesses in Edinburgh amid concerns over a new Covid-19 variant circulating.
The latest Public Health Scotland data shows that after a lull in the spring and summer months the death toll has been steadily rising in recent months.
Last winter there were over 50 deaths in Edinburgh each month but with the help of the vaccination programme the numbers began to drop.
By April and May there was just one death in each month but with the onset of new variants over the summer the number began rising.
In August, there were 20 deaths recorded, by September that number had risen to 30 and already this month another 10 deaths have been recorded on the PHS data tables. Fatalities take time to be registered on the PHS site so the number for October is expected to be between 20 and 30 again.
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The latest PHS daily update as of October 19 shows that Edinburgh is the third most infectious place in Scotland for Covid-19.
There were 182 new infections recorded, 1230 over the week between October 11 and 17, and a new total of 55,854 since the pandemic started last year.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has confirmed that experts are keeping a close eye on the latest strain of the virus to affect Scots.
Nicola Sturgeon has said it is being closely monitored after a rise in infections, as she pleaded people to practice good personal hygiene.
This new variant, scientifically named AY.4.2 and known as Delta Plus, was first identified in July.
Delta Plus was included in a UK Government briefing that summarised Covid-19 “variants of concern and variants under investigation in England” published last Friday.
This report from the UK Health Security Agency said that in the most recent week Delta Plus amounted to six percent of Covid-19 infections.
“A Delta sublineage newly designated as AY.4.2 is noted to be expanding in England,” the report points out.
The briefing noted that Delta Plus cases were on an “increasing trajectory” and that further assessment is underway.
