The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Two more cases brings Scotland’s total to 18
Scottish Government confirms new cases as man in his 60s becomes third UK patient to die of the disease
Two more coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Scotland.
A total of 1,957 tests in Scotland have now been concluded, with 18 found to be positive.
The Scottish Government confirmed the additional cases yesterday.
There have now been four confirmed cases in Grampian, three in both the Greater Glasgow and the Lothian health board areas, two each in Lanarkshire, Fife and Forth Valley, one in Ayrshire and one in Tayside.
A third patient has died in England after testing positive for the virus, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said last night.
The man, aged in his 60s, who had underlying health problems, died at North Manchester General Hospital having recently returned from Italy.
Across the UK, as of 9am yesterday, 273 people had been diagnosed with Covid-19 – an increase of 67 from the 206 cases confirmed at 7am on Saturday.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the BBC about contingency plans being worked up by the Scottish Government in case the spread of coronavirus continues to escalate.
Asked about any move to close schools at short notice, the first minister confirmed that all options were being considered.
“There has been a lot of talk of school closures and clearly that is one of the measures that has been implemented in other countries, and it is one of several measures that could be considered here,” she said. “But I want to stress that there has been no decision taken on that.
“We’re seeking to make sure we’re taking decisions in good order, but also that we’re taking decisions that are really strongly underpinned by scientific advice.
“There are quite difficult balances and quite difficult judgments to be made here.”
She also spoke about plans to ensure the NHS can cope with a surge in demand during the outbreak, although she emphasised that most of those infected would have mild symptoms.
“The kind of things the NHS plans for is, yes, if necessary, to postpone nonurgent treatment to make sure that the capacity is there for more urgent cases, people who need hospital care,” she told the BBC’S Politics Scotland programme.
“We’re also looking at plans that would allow us to increase capacity, not just general hospital capacity, but increase intensive care and high dependency capacity as well, so that those services are there.
“So there are a whole range of things that are under consideration and will move into implementation. Not all of these things may prove to be necessary, but it is important that we’re planning for worst-case scenarios.”
Pressed on how capacity could be increased, Ms Sturgeon said: “There are facilities that we can use that are perhaps not used routinely.
“You will have heard in recent times talk of perhaps encouraging – if necessary, and I keep stressing that – healthcare workers who have retired from practice to come back in, so we’ve got additional staff.
“It may require procuring additional equipment.
“The point I’m making is that there are plans in place that are being carefully refined and worked through right now.
“Not all of these things may prove to be necessary, but it is important that we’re planning for worst-case scenarios.”
Ms Sturgeon added that efforts were being made to protect vulnerable people during the outbreak.
“We’re looking very closely at what the Scottish Government can do within our own powers and resources, and anything we can do we will do,” she said.
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There are plans in place that are being carefully refined right now... It is important that we’re planning for worstcase scenarios. NICOLA STURGEON