Coronavirus crisis
‘Reverse gear’ may be needed after a surge of Covid-19 cases
SCOTLAND’S exit from lockdown must have a ‘reverse gear’ following a worrying increase in coronavirus cases.
National Clinical Director Jason Leitch yesterday said he was ‘worried’ at a surge in positive test results as the easing of restrictions started.
As of yesterday, up to four people from two households can meet up outside, in gardens or in public spaces.
Previously, two adults from two households were able to meet outdoors for exercise only. Further changes now in force include allowing people aged 12 to 17 to meet in groups of up to four from up to four households.
Outdoor, non-contact sports for adults in groups of up to 15 are able to restart.
Nicola Sturgeon will next week set out a routemap for exiting lockdown, with indicative dates for the reopening of nonessential retailers, hospitality venues, gyms and hairdressers.
But Professor Leitch said that a rise in coronavirus cases in Scotland in recent days shows the need for a cautious easing of restrictions.
Across Scotland, the daily figure for cases stood at 682 yesterday, up from 501 new cases on Monday, March 8.
It comes as new figures from the Office for National Statistics show that coronavirus cases continue to fall in England, while appearing to level off in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The estimates show around one in 270 people in private households in England
‘Everything was looking good’
had Covid-19 between February 28 and March 6 – around 200,600 people.
This is down from around one in 220, or 248,100 people, for the period February 21 to 27. The estimate for Scotland was around one in 320 people, up from one in 335 the previous week.
At the Government’s coronavirus briefing, Professor Leitch said a ‘reverse gear’ might be needed if the rise continued for another seven days.
He said: ‘Up until Monday, everything was looking good, numbers were falling, we were decelerating.
‘Our seven-day average across the nation was 65 per 100,000, the lowest it’s been for months.’
At this point, he said, around half of Scotland’s council areas had cases at less than 50 per 100,000.
Professor Leitch added: ‘But since Monday the numbers have risen. That has worried us again.’
He said this reinforced the Government’s strategy of opening up from lockdown slowly and reviewing the country’s progress at threeweek checkpoints.
Professor Leitch was also asked about cases in the Greater Glasgow health board area and whether they may be linked to celebrations by Rangers fans last weekend.
Yesterday, 276 cases were confirmed in the region, the highest daily number since February 9.
Professor Leitch said it was too early to determine what was driving this, adding: ‘I can assure you that Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s infection control groups and public health groups will be having problem assessment meetings where we look at that data.’
While restrictions have been eased on the mainland, some areas including Orkney, Shetland, Skye and much of the Inner Hebrides, remain under Level 3 measures. A further relaxation of the restrictions across the country will commence on Monday with all primary pupils returning to school, while secondary school students will go back on a part-time basis.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: ‘All of these changes are focused on enhancing people’s wellbeing and together they represent gradual but important steps towards greater normality.’
From April 5, it is hoped Scotland’s ‘stay at home’ message could be dropped, with a further easing of restrictions from April 26 – with mainland Scotland to go from lockdown to level three.