Covid in Fife: Patients in hospital rise almost four-fold in recent weeks

It is one of the biggest jumps among health boards in Scotland, and it comes as concerns grow for a winter wave of Covid cases.

The latest data comes as the first detailed breakdown on COVID deaths across the Kingdom since the start of the pandemic was also released.

In Scottish hospitals, the number of patients in hospital stood at 869 on October 9 - the highest level since mid-August.

But the number in Scottish intensive care units remains low, at just five patients as of the same date, the Public Health Scotland figures show.

In Fife there were 28 COVID patients in hospital in Fife on September 18.

That figure rose to 57 by the 25th and 64 by October 2.

On October 9, the total stood at 83.

Elsewhere among health boards in Scotland,the rise in cases wasn’t as steep.

Ayrshire and Arran rose from 44 to 77, Tayside went up from 18 to 47, and Lanarkshire up from 98 to 105.

The total number of patients in English hospitals has climbed its highest figure since July, while admissions in Wales have doubled.

The Omicron subvariant BA.5 is still the dominant variant according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), but three other subvariants, BQ.X, BA.2.75.2, and BF.7, seem to be gaining ground.

Professor Martin Michaelis, professor of molecular medicine at the University of Kent, said these three subvariants also seem to be “better at bypassing pre-existing immunity from vaccination and previous infections than BA.5”.

He said: “It is likely that they already contribute to the increase in Covid-19 cases we are detecting at the moment.”

An estimated one in 50 people in England and Wales have Covid-19, according to the latest modelling released by the Office for National Statistics.

Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at the UKHSA, said: “Outbreaks in hospitals and care homes are also on the rise. Make sure you have any Covid-19 vaccinations you are eligible for and avoid contact with others if you feel unwell or have symptoms of a respiratory infection.”

The latest data comes as the first detailed breakdown on COVID deaths across Fife since the start of the pandemic was released.

The figures give the most detailed local picture to date of how the virus impacted differently.

The hardest hit areas with 27 deaths each were Cardenden, Cowdenbeath North and Woodside in Glenrothes.

The Bellyeoman and Townhill areas of Dunfermline recorded 26, and Kirkcaldy Central 22.

Across Kirkcaldy District, many figures were in low single figures, but there variations.

Burntisland West record 13 deaths from a population of 4100, while there were just three in Burntisland East from a population of 2600.

Linktown and Seafield in Kirkcaldy saw 13 deaths from a population of around 4600, while Templehall East had five with the same numbers of residents.

Templehall East also had five deaths while there were six in Bennochy West and 8 in Bennochy East.

There were six deaths in Dunnikier, seven in Chapel, 16 in Hayfield/Smeaton, 13 each in Pathhead and Gallatown/Smeaton, nine each in Dysart and Thornton/Leslie, and six in the Wemyss.

There was just one death in the Raith intermediate zone, and two in Aberdour and Auchtertool,