100,000 Scots could have virus and not know it

MORE than 100,000 Scots may unknowingly have Covid- 19, according to the results of trial testing of people without symptoms.

Six testing sites set up in west central Scotland found that 3 per cent of all people checked were positive.

If the same results were found among Scotland’s adult population of 3.5million, it would mean there would be more than 100,000 people who have the virus without displaying symptoms.

Coronavirus symptoms include a high temperature, loss of sense of taste or smell and a new continuous cough.

The findings sparked calls for mass testing of asymptomatic people to be rolled out.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: ‘These preliminary results suggest that there may be tens of thousands of unsuspecting people currently with the virus.

‘I have been encouraging the Scottish Government to introduce a programme of mass community testing for months now.

‘While these tests are not perfect, mass testing would allow us to catch many more infections and help to prevent the virus from spreading further.

‘We are months behind nations like Slovakia who have been able to test their entire population in a matter of days. Ministers must explain how they will scale up these trials and enable all of those in areas where the virus is prevalent to access them.’

The Scottish Government set up six mobile testing sites at the end of last month for six areas in west central Scotland which have high case numbers. They were sent 20,000 home testing kits to be used on people in each area with no symptoms of the virus. Initial results from November 26 to December 4 show that, out of 13,061 tests carried out, 426, or 3 per cent, were positive.

Dalmarnock in Glasgow had the highest test positivity rate, with 88 out of 1,107, which is almost 8 per cent. This was followed by 5 per cent in West Pollokshields, Glasgow, 4 per cent in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, and 3 per cent in Stewarton, Ayrshire.

Detailed local breakdowns have not been published yet for Johnstone in Renfrewshire or Girvan in Ayrshire.

Final results for the full pilot scheme are due later this week.

Latest figures yesterday showed a further 734 confirmed coronavirus cases around Scotland, which was 7.6 per cent of all newly tested people. These included 213 positive cases in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 135 in Lothian and 95 in Lanarkshire. The remaining cases were spread across nine other health board areas.

There are 1,012 people in hospital with Covid-19, down three on the previous day, while numbers in intensive care fell by one to 46.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘ Our community asymptomatic trials have now concluded and the results are being carefully analysed.

‘ This data, and the l essons learned from it, will inform our planning for a wider programme of community testing.’