First Scottish death was rugby fan

The first casualty to die from coronavirus in Scotland was a French tourist, the Scotsman can reveal.

The elderly man reported feeling unwell while staying at the Point A hotel in Haymarket before being transferred to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he died on Thursday night. He is understood to have travelled to the Scottish capital with his two sons to watch the Six Nations rugby clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.

A spokesman for Point A Hotels said: “Our thoughts are with the family.

“We have had robust health protection measures in place for several weeks now and we continue to follow the latest guidance provided by Scottish Government and local health professionals, putting the health and welfare of our guests and staff above all other considerations.”

Believed to be aged over 60, the patient is understood to have had an aggressive form of cancer. He was staying at Point A for one night after travelling to watch the 8 March match.

Chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood said: “I am saddened to report that a patient in Scotland who has tested positive for coronavirus has died in hospital.

“I offer my deepest sympathy to their friends and family at this difficult time.

“The patient, who was being treated by Lothian Health Board, was an older person who had underlying health conditions.”

A second person was yesterday confirmed to have died in Scotland after becoming infected with coronavirus.

● No new jury trials will meanwhile commence in Scottish courts as measures are introduced into the judiciary system to halt the spread of coronavirus.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service said yesterday that jury trials that have already started would run to their conclusion where that was practicable. months to ensure a “swift and radical change” in the way it operates. Describing it as the “most rapid reconfiguration of our health service in its 71-year history”, health secretary Jeane Freeman said that there would be:

● A doubling of intensive care unit capacity, with staff trained and facilities repurposed;

●Acontingencysupplyofoxygen for hospital and community use in place;

● An increase in bed capacity from 13,000 to 16,000;

● The suspension of nonurgent elective operations – although vital cancer treatments, emergency, maternity, and urgent care will continue;

● A “rapid reduction” in delayed discharges, with the goal of a reduction of at least 400 by the end of this month and the use of beds in the private health sector.

She also said retired staff would be asked to return to healthcare professions and senior students in nursing, allied health professions and medicine would be deployed into appropriate settings.

Ms Freeman said there had been 195 positive cases of coronavirus in Scotland, but “we know the true figure of infections will be substantially higher.” She told MSPS of two reported deaths of patients who had tested positive.

“We are asking our society to take some truly unprecedented steps to suppress the spread of this infection and minimise its impact,” she said.

“As we work to suppress this infection, we will continue a strong testing regime that will ensure key workers, such as frontline NHS staff, will be tested so that they do not selfisolate unnecessarily.”

Ms Freeman said specific measures were being put in place for those who were immunosuppressed, and that the NHS would directly contact them next week to advise them of “the stringent measures you need to take to keep yourself and others safe”.

Further advice has gone to long-term care facilities caring for the frail and people with complex needs and that discussions were ongoing with Scottish Care and Cosla about “what more can be done to ensure the overall well-being of residents in longterm care homes”.

She added: “In years to come, when people look back, there will be a time before this infection