State Of The Epidemic In Scotland - 24th September 2021

24th September 2021

Background
This report summarises the current situation on the Covid-19 epidemic in Scotland. It brings together the different sources of evidence and data about the epidemic in Scotland at this point in time, why we are at that place, and what is likely to happen next. This summarises the data up to and including 23 September 2021 on Covid-19 in Scotland. This updates the previous publication published on 17 September 2021

The information in this document helps the Scottish Government, the health service and the wider public sector respond to the epidemic and put in place what is needed to keep us safe and treat people who have the virus.

This edition of the State of the Epidemic summarises current data on Covid-19 at a national and local level, and how Scotland currently compares to the rest of the UK. It looks at the vaccination program in Scotland and the effects that are beginning to be seen from this.

Information is provided about variants of concern and what impact these may have. Bringing this information together in one place gives the opportunity to better understand the current state of the epidemic in Scotland.

Please note that Public Health Scotland experienced technical issues that affected data availability on 16 September 2021. Cases reported on 17 September were based on a 48 hour period and figures provided on 17, 18 and 19 September are not directly comparable to other dates.

1 Scottish Government: Coronavirus (COVID-19): state of the epidemic - gov.scot (Key Points
• The reproduction rate R in Scotland, as of 7 September, is estimated
as being between 0.8 and 1.1. This is a decrease in the lower and
upper limits from last week.
• An average of 4,127 cases were reported per day in the 7 days to 23
September, which is a 21% decrease in reported cases since 15
September.
• There were 458 weekly cases per 100,000 in the week to 20
September (by specimen date), which is a decrease since last week.
This is now lower than the most recent peak (824 weekly cases per
100,000 on 6 September) but higher than the peak in July (425
weekly cases per 100,000 recorded on 3 July).
• Case rates have decreased across all age bands in the week to 20
September. As of 20 September, the highest case rates were
observed amongst under 20s, followed by 40-59, 20-39, 60-79 and
80+.
• As determined through the latest weekly ONS survey, the estimated
proportion of people becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the
community in Scotland appears to have levelled off in the last week
(week ending 18 September 2021).
• Latest modelled estimates suggest that as of 7 September there were
between 219 and 394 new daily infections per 100,000 people in
Scotland. This is an increase in the lower and upper limits since last
week.
• There were 135 deaths registered in Scotland where coronavirus was
mentioned on the death certificate in the week ending 19 September.
• Hospital admissions related to Covid-19 in children are the highest
since the start of the pandemic.
• West Dunbartonshire currently has the highest weekly case rate in
Scotland reporting 745 cases per 100,000 in the week to 20
September, followed by North Lanarkshire with 620 weekly cases per
100,000, and South Ayrshire with 596 weekly cases per 100,000. All
local authorities reported over 100 weekly cases per 100,000
population in the last week. Orkney reported the lowest case rate with
107 weekly cases per 100,000 in the same period.
• Nationwide, levels of Covid-19 in wastewater have fallen since the
previous week.
• Hospital and ICU occupancies have plateaued. The scale of any
future increase or decrease in hospital occupancy and intensive care
use is highly uncertain, and depends on the number of infections.

• Over 4.1 million people in Scotland have been given a first vaccine
against SARS-CoV-2, and over 3.8 million have received a second
dose by 23 September.
• The Delta variant of concern (VOC-21AP

Read the full report HERE
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-state-epidemic-24-september-2021/