HOW A NATION CHANGED BEYOND

FOUR weeks ago, the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Scotland.

Since then, life has changed beyond all recognition.

Here’s a look back at how the coronavirus crisis has escalated north of the Border since then:

The Scottish Government announced the first Covid-19 case in

Scotland on Sunday, March 1.

The patient, a Tayside resident recently returned from Italy, was treated in isolation in hospital.

News had first emerged of people being tested for the virus in Scotland on January 23, with negative test results being reported the next day.

By January 30,

Scotland’s chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood warned a positive case of coronavirus was “highly likely” in the coming days.

However, it was just more than a month before the first positive test result was confirmed.

Public health minister Joe FitzPatrick said there was “no need to panic” over the outbreak. However, just days later, Calderwood said large gatherings could be banned in Scotland, citing action being taken in Italy.

A day after the first positive case was confirmed, Calderwood said Scotland would continue with “business as usual” even in the event of the virus spreading across the country. In the first of what would become daily briefings, Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish Government expected a “significant outbreak of coronavirus”.

On March 8, a week after the first case, there were 18 confirmed cases – but the following day the First Minister stressed