Covid cluster identified at care home

A cluster of coronavirus cases has been identified at a care home in Glasgow, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s briefing yesterday, the first minister said of the 19 new cases announced on Sunday, 12 were in Glasgow and more than a quarter – seven – were from the care home.

She did not name the home or say whether the positive tests involved residents or staff but said the cases were asymptomatic.

Sunday was the second consecutive day when new cases in Scotland were higher than they had been for several weeks – but no new deaths have been recorded for five days in a row.

It followed further easing of the lockdown, such as outdoor hospitality resuming last Wednesday and households being able to meet indoors on Friday.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed reports from Scottish Care that some GPS and directors of public health have refused to test people going into care homes, against the Scottish Government’s policy.

“The guidance and the requirement is crystal clear on this,” Ms Freeman said.

“If you are to be admitted to a care home, unless there is a clinical reason not to do this, then there should be one negative test before that admission and then the individual needs to be nursed and looked after in their own room in isolation for the 14 days to be absolutely sure that – even with a negative test – no symptoms are going to be developed.”

Ms Sturgeon said of the cluster: “That is being looked at in much greater detail and all necessary follow-up tests, checks and precautions are being undertaken.”

The first minister announced six people across Scotland tested positive for coronavirus between Sunday and yesterday, taking the total to 18,365, but stressed extended hours enabling deaths to be registered at the weekend are now changing.

A total of 2,490 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19, no change on the previous day.

Some 550 patients are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid.

Of these, six were in intensive care, no change in the past 24 hours.

The first minister spoke as further lockdown changes came into force across Scotland yesterday, including hospitals allowing a designated visitor for non-coronavirus patients, shopping centres fully reopening and children being able to play contact sports outdoors.

She told the briefing: “Today indoor shopping malls have opened up, organised outdoor sport and play measures for children and some routine dental treatment has restarted.

“As these services reopen and as we all leave the house a bit more than has been the case over the past few months, it becomes ever more important that we take the basic steps to avoid the virus.”