Repeat lockdown warning as NHS crisis looms

MEASURES to halt the spread of coronavirus may be reimposed after being lifted if cases spike rapidly, Scotland's chief medical officer has said.

Dr Catherine Calderwood said on Sunday that the lockdown will be in place for at least 13 weeks.

She confirmed on Monday the removal of the lockdown may not be permanent.

An increase in cases, hospital admissions and deaths is expected when the lockdown is lifted.

A more rapid spike than predicted could lead to the lockdown being reintroduced.

She said: "What we do know is that once restrictive measures are lifted, we will see a spike in the number of cases with the virus again, and a spike in the number of hospital admissions, ICU admissions and deaths.

"It is entirely possible that, having lifted the measures, we would have to place them back down again.

"Perhaps not all of them, perhaps not as stringently, depending on the size of this second peak."

She added: "I would want the people in Scotland to be aware that actually this 13 weeks is one figure that seems a very long time, but unfortunately unless we really have got this virus under control - we may not be able to return to normal after that."

Before the powers will be rea scinded, Dr Calderwood said the NHS will need to see the number of transmissions fall "very significantly".

NHS crisis warning

A union has warned of a crisis in NHS staffing as thousands of ambulance workers self-isolate.

Research by the GMB suggested that 4,100 ambulance workers have self-isolated across just eight trusts - London, Yorkshire, North East, Wales, East Midlands, South Central, South East Coast and North West.

The union said its ambulance members report being given no access to personal protective equipment (PPE) even when being sent to treat patients suspected of having Covid-19.

When supplies are getting through, they are often out-ofdate masks with stickers over the expiry dates, said the union.

GMB national officer Rachel Harrison said: "The lack of protective equipment for our frontline workers is nothing short of national crisis and it's going to bring services to the brink.

"We've got thousands workers self-isolating.

"Some will have the virus after working without proper protective gear, others might just have a cold and could be at work but without testing there is no way to know - it's creating a capacity issue and putting more people at risk.

"Out-of-date masks are being issued as standard, with stickers placed over expiry dates as if somehow that means the equipment is safe to use.

"Our members are trained in how to be safe, they know that they're being put at risk but are worried too that lack of protection means they're taking this virus home to their loved ones. That's just plain wrong.

"The Government need to act now to get PPE to the front line, and immediately start testing frontline staff as a priority.

"GMB is demanding PPE for all staff who need it and testing for all staff." of