Ross and Cromarty are records at least 140 confirmed cases of Covid-19 coronavirus in seven days up to January 2, Public Health Scotland figures reveal
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AT least 140 confirmed Covid-19 infections were reported across Ross and Cromarty in the Christmas/New Year week, official figures have shown.
New data published by Public Health Scotland on Tuesday revealed that there were at least 140 recorded cases in Ross and Cromarty in the seven days leading up to January 2.
It came as 439 positive tests were reported across Highland Council as a whole over the same one week period.
In Ross-shire, the worst affected communities were Alness (with 34 cases), Dingwall (20), Conon Bridge and surroundings (18) and Invergordon (17).
Although not part of Ross-shire – or the figure of 140 – the neighbouring Inverness West Rural area, which runs from the outskirts of Inverness and up to and beyond Beauly, posted 68 cases on its own. While Inverness and its immediate area (which includes the Inverness West Rural ward figure) had close to 240 confirmed infections.
The shock figures came as the Covid infection rate across Highland Council rocketed to its highest ever level over the New Year weekend – hitting 186.2 cases per 100,000 people.
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 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
