The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scottish cases have risen to 11
Largest increase in a day since the first instance was identified
There are now 11 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Scotland.
The Scottish Government confirmed yesterday that five new cases have been identified since Thursday.
The new Covid-19 cases are two in Fife and one each in Grampian, Forth Valley and Lothian health board areas, the Scottish Government said in an update.
It is the largest increase in a day since the first case in Scotland was confirmed in Tayside on Sunday evening.
It comes as a man in his early eighties became the second person to die in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus.
The man, who had underlying health conditions, died on Thursday at Milton Keynes University Hospital.
The trust confirmed last night the man died shortly after testing positive for coronavirus.
NHS Fife’s deputy director of public health Dr Esther Curnock said: “We have well-rehearsed procedures in place to deal with the potential of communicable viruses.
“In recent weeks we have established a community testing team to enable those with mild symptoms meeting criteria to be tested in their own homes.
“If, as anticipated, we see a significant increase in the numbers of those requiring testing then we are likely to expand our capacity further to ensure timely testing of those meeting the criteria.”
There are now three cases in Grampian and one in Tayside. A total of 1,525 tests have been carried out in Scotland.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged a further £46 million for research into a coronavirus vaccine and rapid diagnostic tests.
The prime minister announced the funding during a tour of a Bedfordshire laboratory, where British scientists are working on a quick and cheap way to diagnose coronavirus.
Across the UK, 163 people had tested positive for Covid-19 as of 9am yesterday, up from 115 cases reported at the same time on Thursday.
A further case was confirmed in Northern Ireland, making the total 164.
England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has previously said the UK “will not have a vaccine available for the first wave” of a pandemic, but that it is still important to develop one for any future waves.
Global human trials of eight possible vaccines could start later this year. But firms would then face the task of massproducing and distributing them.
Public Health England (PHE) has developed methods of testing for coronavirus, but more rapid tests are needed without lab work.
The package announced by the PM comes under the “research” phase of the government’s “battle plan” to deal with coronavirus.
Downing Street said the UK’s investment into Covid-19 vaccine research is now worth £65m, with £91m in total for international work to stop the spread of the virus.