Spike in cases puts lockdown easing at risk

Sturgeon extends restrictions in west and rules out move into phase four of exit plan

The first minister has said latest figures showing a rise in the number of coronavirus cases across Scotland mean she may need to “put the brakes” on some measures to ease lockdown.

Speaking during her daily briefing yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland was seeing a “very definite trend” in a rise in cases.

The first minister also gave an early indication of the outcome of Thursday’s review of lockdown measures in Scotland by stating that recent statistics show it will “not be the case” that the country can move into phase four of its road map out of lockdown, as to do so the virus must no longer be considered a significant threat.

Ms Sturgeon admitted it “may be that we have to put the brakes on some further changes, too”.

However, she would not be drawn on which measures may be halted, including fans getting back into football stadia, of which an indicative date was previously given of September 14 at the last lockdown review.

Later yesterday, Ms Sturgeon revealed lockdown measures in the west are to be widened.

She tweeted: “Having looked at where cases are being identified, the advice fromthepublichealthexpertsmanaging this outbreak is that restrictions on indoor gatherings should be extended to Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire and continue for at least a further seven days in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire.

“Acting now gives us the time and the space to protect people and get more control over the virus.”

A new Protect Scotland app will launch later this week, which the first minister claimed would not “track your location”, addressing recent concerns around privacy and confidentiality.

She added: “But if you test positive, if you download and use the app, it will help identify people you have been in close contact with who are not known to you; for example, someone you might have sat close to on a bus or train.”

Over the past seven days, the average number of cases being reported on a daily basis is 152, up from 52 cases on average per day just under three weeks ago and an average of 14 new cases a day around six weeks ago.

Ms Sturgeon said: “We have a very definite trend at the moment and in some ways it shouldn’t surprise us.

“In recent weeks we have opened up most of our economy.”

A total of 256 patients are in hospital, 12 more than yesterday, and five people are in intensive care, one higher than yesterday.

In the past 24 hours, no deaths were registered as a result of the virus.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during yesterday’s briefing in Edinburgh.