LIVING IN FEAR OF VIRUS
United star quarantined... Scots Grand National in doubt School shut for deepclean... Gaiety Theatre closes its doors
We’ve never known anything like it as Ayrshire retreats from normal life for MONTHS ahead.
Events big and small have been axed, queues have developed, some employers have sent staff home.
Aircraft are being parked up at Prestwick Airport, restaurants and bars are near empty and business is in crisis.
These scenes, as if from a disaster movie, are being played out now in the streets of South and East Ayrshire.
Ad- hoc groups have sprung- up to help the needy.
The Scotitsh Grand National at Ayr was in jeoporady this week because of the Coronavirus outbreak.
Scotland’s premier steeplechase was set to go- ahead next month.
Organisers of the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr Racecourse were this week bracing themselves for the possibility of the showpiece event being cancelled.
It comes as the Aintree Grand National has been called off.
A statement from Ayr racecourse said yesterday: “Ayr Racecourse is in close communication with the Government and racing authorities about current public health matters regarding the Covid- 19 virus.
“The British Horse Racing Authority has today confirmed a plan to continue racing behind closed doors until the end of March.
“This follows on from the Scottish Government advising mass gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak which led to Kelso racing behind closed doors.
“We will monitor the situation with regard to the Coral Scottish Grand National and let our customers know any updates.” Ayr United staff and players were ordered to steer clear after a squad member reported symptoms of COVID- 19
A club spokesman saisd: “Following UK Government guidelines and advice our player was instructed to self isolate, which he is now doing.
“Our focus now is on ensuring our player makes a swift return to good health.”
As the Post reached its deadline, a total of seven people in Ayrshire had tested postive for coronavirus A total of 4,895 Scottish tests have concluded.
Of these 4,724 tests were confirmed negative and 171 tests were positive.
One person has died of the disease in the country.
The number of Coronavirus cases confirmed in the UK has risen by 171 to 1543.