Sturgeon praises NHS Tayside as exemplar of testing

NICOLA Sturgeon has hailed NHS Tayside as an “exemplar” of coronavirus testing, as she revealed other health boards have been following its lead to increase the number of key staff able to return to work.

Scottish Government figures released for the first time on Wednesday showed Dundee had the highest rate of confirmed Covid-19 cases per head of population in Scotland after recording 601 positive tests among its 148,750 residents.

Medical chiefs in Tayside attributed the high count of confirmed cases to the local health board’s decision to begin proactively testing its own staff on March 17.

Dr Daniel Chandler, a consultant in public health medicine, said the high number of individuals confirmed with the virus was “very easily explained” by NHS Tayside testing “many, many more” employees and key workers than other health boards.

Ms Sturgeon said: “All health boards are working to – and are – increasing testing of key workers but I would absolutely say NHS Tayside has been an exemplar in this and other health boards have been able to learn from the methods that they have been using. So I would absolutely give them the credit that they deserve.”

It comes as it was revealed Tayside has 35 more positive cases, up to 1,159 overall.

There are now 97 people being treated in hospital, an increase of seven when compared with the day prior.

Meanwhile, there are six people in intensive care, a reduction of one from Tuesday.

Fife has 619 positive cases, 141 people being treated in hospital, five of whom are in intensive care.