First minister gives ‘under pressure’ care sector an extra £50m

NICOLA Sturgeon has announced an extra £50 million to help the care sector tackle Covid-19.

Speaking during a briefing in Edinburgh, she said the social care sector is “under immense pressure”.

She revealed 1,912 patients have now died in Scotland after testing positive, up 50 from 1,862 on Monday.

The most recent figures for deaths in Scotland’s care homes, published by the National Records of Scotland on Wednesday May 6, show 43% of all Covid-19 linked registered deaths to date are in these settings.

As of Sunday, 65% of Scotland’s care homes have alerted the Care Inspectorate to at least one suspected case.

As of that date, 44% of care homes in Scotland had a current suspected case. Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government is “working hard to support the sector in every way we can”, with increased testing i n care homes and supplies of personal protective equipment.

Money will go to all 32 of Scotland’s councils to cover both care homes and care at home services.

She also announced £31m t o extend t he small business grants scheme to those properties eligible for charitable or sports rate relief.

Ms Sturgeon said 13,763 people in Scotland have now tested positive, a rise of 136 f rom 13,627 on Monday. As of Monday night, 1,618 patients were in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, up 165 from 1,453 the previous day. Of these, 81 are in intensive care, a rise of one.

Ms Sturgeon stressed the rise is t hrough patients suspected to have the virus, with confirmed cases down 14 in 24 hours to 1,131.