Spike in Covid-19 infections in Inverness and neighbouring area, after almost 240 positive coronavirus tests recorded in seven days leading up to January 2nd
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ALMOST 240 Covid-19 cases were detected across Inverness and neighbouring communities in the seven days to January 2, official figures have revealed.
The figures were posted to Public Health Scotland's online Covid map this afternoon.
The worst affected part of the city was Westhill with 26 confirmed cases, with Inshes (21) and Smithton (14) next on the list.
However, the Inverness West Rural area – which runs from the edge of the city and along the Beauly Firth's southern shoreline to Beauly and then down towards Glen Affric – was the most heavily impacted of the designated local 'wards', with no fewer than 68 confirmed infections in the Christmas/New Year week.
Inverness East Rural posted 23 infections.
The spike in infections came as the Covid rate across the Highland Council area rocketed to its highest ever level over the New Year weekend – hitting 186.2 cases per 100,000 people in the most recent seven day period.
Some 439 cases were recorded across the local authority area in the week leading up to January 2 – the most recent date for which the seven day figure is available.
The figure is well up on the 68.3 confirmed cases for every 100,000 people that was reported in the seven days leading up to December 28 – and the 14.8 cases per 100k across the Highland Council area this time just last month.
But, although the Highland figure has jumped over Christmas and New Year, it is still lower than the Scottish rate of 279.7.
The dramatic increase in the number of cases across Highland Council mirrored a huge jump in infections across the wider NHS Highland region over the New Year weekend. The health board area reported 450 new positive tests in the five days since Hogmanay.
Related news: 450 new Covid-19 cases across NHS Highland area
