VIRUS RISING IN ALL AGE GROUPS
First Minister warns Covid is hitting more than youngsters
CORONAVIRUS cases are rising across all age groups and new cases have been reported throughout Scotland, the First Minister has warned.
Nicola Sturgeon announced 806 new positive cases of coronavirus.
However, the higher number reflects a backlog from a lower number of positive cases reported on Sunday and Monday.
Sturgeon said some of the cases reported yesterday were from samples taken on Friday and Saturday.
There were 302 new cases reported in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 180 in Lothian, 91 in Lanarkshire and 54 in Grampian. The remaining cases were across the other nine health board areas.
While Scotland is now seeing higher numbers of positive cases, similar to when the virus was at its height in April and May, Sturgeon said the two periods are not the same.
She said: “We are doing more testing now than in the spring so comparisons now between daily figures are not valid.”
She said the rise in cases was mainly affecting younger people but not exclusively.
The First Minister said the age range showed it was under- 40 age groups, with the bulk of new cases in the under- 25s.
She said: “That’s affected by the university cases.
“We know younger people are less likely to die but that mustn’t give rise to complacency because young people can become unwell and while risk of dying is lower it is not non- existent.
“While we are seeing a significant number of cases in the younger age group, the case transmission among the older age group is rising.”
While Sturgeon said around one third of new cases were in the over40 age group, she added transmission was rising across all age groups.
The First Minister also raised the possibility of students being required to self- isolate before they are allowed to go home for Christmas.
The First Minister said she wanted students to be able to go home to their families at the end of term for the Christmas holidays.
She said: “Nobody wants students to be stuck at university at Christmas.”
She hinted at a requirement that could reduce the risk of students potentially carrying the virus back home to their families and communities across the country.
Sturgeon added: “That could mean – and it’s not a decision – it could include students having to isolate for a period before going home.”
More than 1000 students are isolating across Scotland following outbreaks in halls of residence with hundreds at Glasgow University told to stay in their accommodation.
Meanwhile, a health helpline has seen a rise in people contemplating suicide during lockdown and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Higher levels of anxiety have led to more people calling NHS 24 with suicidal thoughts, its chief executive has told MSPs.
Angiolina Foster said worries over job losses and the furlough scheme have put greater pressures on individuals and families.
She said there was a “a higher level than usual, I am very sorry to say, of people with suicidal thoughts”, adding that it was a “very discernible and alarming trend”.
The NHS 24 mental health hub has been dealing with around 2000 calls a week.
TOTAL NEW CASES IN GREATER GLASGOW: 302