Sturgeon: Care home transfers may have cost lives
Nicola Sturgeon has admitted the spread of coronavirus in care homes “will haunt a lot of us for a long time” as she said she would have reached “different conclusions” with hindsight.
The First Minister conceded older people may have died as a result of her government’s decision to discharge them from hospitals into care homes.
Six in every ten care homes in Scotland have now had at least one case of Covid-19, with 45 per cent of care homes currently infected. In total, 1,623 residents have died due to the pandemic.
Ms Sturgeon’s admission came as it was confirmed the Scottish Government’s target of recruiting 2,000 contact-tracers for coping with corona virus when lock down measures are lifted would be met by the end of the month.
It will be confirmed on Thursday how lockdown rules will change in Scotland. Ms Sturgeon said yesterday those changes would probably take effect from Friday.
A cancer charity has launched an appeal amid the “toughest challenge” it has ever faced as the organisation fears it will be unable to provide support in future due to the impact of coronavirus.
Clan Cancer Support has had to postpone major fundraising events due to the Covid-19 outbreak, but has seen significant demand for its telephone support, counselling and online services.
The body is now calling for donations for its Here For You appeal.
Chief executive Colette Backwell said: “Coronavirus is the toughest challenge Clan has ever faced, but we are contin