IS VIRUS RUNNING OUT OF CONTROL?
Number of Scots cases hits record high for the THIRD day in a row
AN explosion in coronavirus cases saw the number of Scots testing positive hit a record high yesterday – for the third day in a row.
On a devastating day for the nation’s fightback against the virus a further 68 deaths were also registered, the highest daily toll of the second wave.
It follows a warning from scotland’s chief medical officer, Gregor smith, that those who caught Covid over Christmas are now at their ‘most infectious’, amid fears of another spike in cases after hogmanay.
scots were advised to celebrate new year at home and to postpone visits to family today as a new variant of the virus spreads rapidly.
Ministers will ramp up the vaccine rollout from Monday.
however, they are facing fresh calls to deliver a viable test and trace system which experts believe would help to curb the spread of the infection. It comes as:
■ Health secretary Jeane Freeman disclosed that vaccinators will work on evenings and at weekends to distribute the jabs rapidly in the coming weeks;
■ Family doctors criticised a ‘grossly unfair’ delay in second doses of the Pfizer vaccine for causing chaos and anxiety for elderly people;
■ It emerged that production problems could hold up UK access to the new Oxford/astraZeneca vaccine, throwing promises of 30million
doses of the vaccine by this September into doubt;
■ Union bosses have warned that it is ‘unlikely’ Scottish schools will reopen to pupils from January 18 – insisting it would be a ‘recipe for disaster’;
■ Nightingale hospitals in England are set to be reopened amid serious concerns that hospitals in London are reaching crisis point following a massive influx of Covid patients.
Yesterday, officials revealed 2,622 Scots had tested positive for Covid in just 24 hours – a new record high topping the previous day’s total of 2,045.
This means that 127,453 people in Scotland have now contracted the virus.
A further 68 people have died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the country’s death toll to 4,578.
Last night, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘We have another sharp rise in cases today, which will add to NHS pressure in coming days.
‘As predicted, the new strain seems to be speeding up transmission.
‘Please stay at home as much as possible – including for the Bells – and avoid nonessential interaction with others.’
Police Scotland also advised people against Hogmanay gatherings which could break current restrictions and potentially spread the virus further.
All of mainland Scotland and Skye remains under Level 4 measures, while the other islands are in Level 3.
Dr Smith highlighted a graph which shows the five- day period when people would be most likely to pass on the virus.
It follows the relaxation of rules on Christmas Day when up to three households could gather.
The graph shows that the ‘most infectious’ period would start on Hogmanay for up to five days, with those already infected yet to begin to notice symptoms.
In a post on Twitter, Dr Smith wrote: ‘Case numbers are now rising rapidly. If you were infected on Christmas Day you’re now at your most infectious to spread further. Stay at home.’
However, experts have warned that the Scottish Government’s ‘poor’ test and trace system is responsible for a surge in cases – and warned that it must enhance the programme in efforts to slash infections dramatically.
They have also said that the spread of the virus is being enabled by people travelling and meeting, with ‘ controls not working as they should’.
Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at Aberdeen University, said: ‘I suspect the high number of positive cases is due to social mixing around Christmas, lockdown fatigue and cold weather.
‘Maybe the new variant is getting about better, but its spread indicates that people are travelling about and spreading the virus effectively – i.e. controls are not working as they should be. My biggest concern is that self-isolation of positive cases and close contacts is being very poorly done.
‘We need a very big push to remedy this because it is the most effective control measure.’
On Boxing Day, mainland Scotland was plunged into Level 4 restrictions – with near lockdown across the country.
Non- essential retailers were forced to close alongside hospitality businesses, gyms, libraries and other indoor services. The current restrictions are set to be reviewed in two weeks but could be in place longer after the surge in cases. Of those new cases which were announced yesterday, 680 were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 379 in Lothian and 371 in Lanarkshire.
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Donald Cameron said: ‘The increasing number of cases is of major concern.
‘People must stick to the rules, no matter how difficult they are, as this is the answer to controlling the pandemic.
‘With the new vaccine being given approval, a brighter future does await, but we still cannot rest on our laurels.
‘The SNP Government must immediately put a proper action plan in place to get people vaccinated, with the most vulnerable at the top of the list.’ At Holyrood earlier this week, Miss Sturgeon warned that even tighter lockdown restrictions may be needed to stem the spread of the new Covid strain.
The First Minister added that the country is now facing a ‘serious situation’.
It was also revealed that NHS Scotland’s chief executive has told health boards they can pause all non-urgent elective and routine services in January and February.
‘People must stick to the rules’