Nandy calls for law to protect zero-hour staff

LABOUR’S Lisa Nandy last night demanded an emergency law last night to stop the coronavirus leaving thousands of zero-hour workers penniless.

She warned sick pay laws will force many gig economy staff to choose between selfisolating and putting food on the table.

Statutory Sick Pay, worth £94.25 per week, is available to zero-hour workers but only covers those on more than £118 a week – after they’ve been ill for four days.

Those off for seven days need a GP’s note, despite warnings not to visit a GP.

Universal Credit claimants were urged to contact their Jobcentre if they are hit in order to avoid being sanctioned.

BY PAUL HUTCHEON AND TORCUIL CRICHTON

CORONAVIRUS could infect more than four million Scots over the next few months, the country’s most senior health official has warned.

Chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood yesterday said 80 per cent of the population could contract Covid-19, hours after a person living in Tayside was confirmed as Scotland’s first case.

In a joint press conference with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, they outlined how: ●Four out of five Scots could become infected.

Up to 250,000 could be admitted to hospital. ●A significant outbreak is expected. ●Cancellation of major public events could be looked at.

Calderwood said: “The evidence we have is that we might expect up to 80 per cent of the population to have coronavirus at some point.

“We are looking at perhaps up to four per cent of people who will need to have a hospital admission.”

Put to her that four per cent amounted to between 200,000 and 250,000 in Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that was “broadly accurate”.

The stark figures were released after Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired an emergency Cobra meeting in London to discuss the UK picture as the number of confirmed cases soared.

Translated across a UK map, the Scottish projections for a “reasonable worst-case” scenario would mean two million hospital admissions – placing the NHS under serious strain.

Sturgeon said: “The public would want to know that we are preparing on the basis of what we think is the reasonable worst case.”

She said her Government is expecting a “significant outbreak of coronavirus” after the first case was diagnosed on Sunday.

She said Scotland is in the “containment phase” but the situation is under review.

Sturgeon added that Scotland’s Six Nations rugby match against France is still scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Asked if big events were at risk of being called off, she said: “We are not at that stage yet. Decisions will be