ARMY OF SCOTS GPS GO TO WAR ON KILLER VIRUS
Doctors in desperate bid to halt deadly coronavirus – by testing all patients who turn up with fever or a COUGH
PATIENTS who visit their GP with a cough or a fever will be tested for coronavirus in an escalation of the fight to prevent an outbreak in Scotland.
Dramatic new measures being announced today by NHS Scotland will mean anyone with flu-like symptoms or respiratory problems is screened – whether or not they have travelled to countries hit by the infection, known as
Covid-19. Using ‘a surveillance network’ of more than 40 GP practices, thousands will have swabs taken to be examined.
People admitted to critical care units with pneumonia will also be tested. It comes amid a number of new developments, including:
● Three more people testing positive in
England, bringing the confirmed number of UK cases up to 23;
● Banks advising staff based in the Far East to work from home as a precaution;
● Schools being urged to isolate pupils returning from affected countries after half-term;
● Doubts being cast on whether a UN climate conference will go ahead in Glasgow. Meanwhile, NHS Lothian has introduced fast-food-style ‘drive-through’ virus testing facilities in hospital grounds.
Patients with mild symptoms are able to be swabbed – by staff in protective suits – without leaving their vehicle, enabling them to avoid public transport or walking.
So far, no one has tested positive in Scotland for the virus, which has claimed the lives of
more than 2,900 people worldwide. The virus has claimed its first British victim, it was confirmed on Friday. A 70-year-old became infected while quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.
Chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said last night: ‘Scotland is well-prepared for a significant outbreak of coronavirus but there is currently no treatment or vaccine.
‘Early detection measures will be vital in helping to prevent the spread of the virus in the event of an outbreak.
‘Hospitals and GP surgeries will now conduct tests on some patients with coughs, fevers or shortness of breath – regardless of whether they have travelled to a place where the virus is known to be spreading.
‘Not everyone with flu will be tested, but this is a sensible step to take as a precautionary measure to give us an early warning of community transmission.
‘People have a vital role to play in helping us contain any outbreak by following the latest health and travel advice and by following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.’
The Scottish Government announced the measures last night in an effort to minimise the spread of the virus, for
‘Well-prepared for an outbreak’
which there is no cure. It said tests are being increased to include ‘a sample of people with flu-like symptoms who have not travelled to an affected area as a precautionary step’.
The ramped-up measures will assist in detecting transmission early, in the event that there is an outbreak in Scotland.
Official figures confirmed yesterday that of 630 people tested, no one has been found to have coronavirus.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: ‘Using existing NHS monitoring measures, a surveillance network of 41 GP practices testing patients for flu will now submit samples to be tested for coronavirus.
‘Clinicians will also introduce testing for the virus for people who are admitted to critical care units with pneumonia.’
Following half-term holidays, schools now face being placed under lockdown.
Many schools will carry out daily checks on pupils for virus symptoms, which include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Of particular concern are those who may have been to areas such as Italy, China and South Korea. Boarding schools are of particular concern due to their international make-up. According to official documents, if one child in a boarding house is confirmed to have the virus, a Health Protection Team from the local authority will be drafted in to speak to the head teacher about quarantining.
The outbreak has also cast doubt over whether the UN COP26 climate conference will be able to take place in Glasgow in November. Professor Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at Aberdeen University, said: ‘It would be daft to go ahead if the virus is still active, say, in August.
‘The organisers should give thought to having a smaller meeting, or having it online so that no one needs to travel.’
A spokesman for COP26 said: ‘The summit is still many months away but we’re monitoring the situation closely.’
Meanwhile, UK bank workers based in Hong Kong and China are being encouraged to work from home as a precaution against catching the virus.
Employees of HSBC bank have also had restrictions placed on travel to Hong Kong and mainland China for the foreseeable future.
Last night, Natwest confirmed it is ‘safeguarding’ workers and customers based overseas and at home from coronavirus and assured it has ‘operational resilience’ plans in place.
Scottish parliament chiefs sent an email to workers last week, directing them to NHS guidance on affected areas, symptoms and best practice.
Chemists and pharmacies are struggling to keep up with demand for hand sanitisers as shoppers try to protect themselves from the virus.
A notice at Boots’ Buchanan Galleries and St Enoch Centre shops in Glasgow reads: ‘Hand sanitisers are currently limited to two per customer.’
The World Health Organisation has raised its global risk assessment of the virus to its top level, ‘very high’.
Globally, more than 80,000 people have been infected and about 2,800 have died – the vast majority of them in China’s Hubei province.
The total number of UK cases hit 23 yesterday as three more people from England tested positive. Two of the patients had returned from Italy, while the other had been in Asia.