STURGEON IS FORCED TO SELF-ISOLATE
NICOLA Sturgeon is selfisolating after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid.
The First Minister last night revealed she had been ‘pinged’ by contact tracers and warned that she would have to quarantine.
As she has been fully vaccinated, Miss Sturgeon will now take a PCR test – and, if that is negative, she will not have to continue self-isolating.
Writing on Twitter, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘I’ve had notification... that I’ve been identified as a close contact of someone who is positive for Covid.
‘Accordingly, and in line with the rules, I’ll be self-isolating pending a PCR test result. My thanks to all the contact tracers working so hard in NHS Test & Protect.’
It is not clear where and when Miss Sturgeon came into contact with the positive coronavirus case.
On Thursday she attended EdinMiss burgh University’s graduation celebration and on Wednesday she was at the Golden Jubilee Hospital with Health Secretary Humza Yousaf.
On Friday, Miss Sturgeon held a coronavirus briefing from St Andrew’s House, the Scottish Government headquarters, in Edinburgh.
She was joined there by national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch and raised concerns about the spiralling number of Covid-19 cases in Scotland.
Today she is due to interview Shuggie Bain author Douglas Stuart at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. According to the event, ‘both author and interviewer are on stage in the venue’.
It was unclear last night if the event will go ahead – even with the First Minister appearing remotely.
Last week Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville announced that she was self-isolating after testing positive for the virus.
At the time it was said that no ministers had been identified as a close contact.
Last night, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford tweeted a message for
Sturgeon saying: ‘Best wishes to you and I hope you will be OK.
‘You are rightly doing the right thing as you always would, as we all have a duty to do under such circumstances.’
Previously, Miss Sturgeon would have been forced to self-isolate for ten days after coming into contact with a positive coronavirus case.
However, earlier this month the rules were changed meaning those who are fully-vaccinated no longer have to quarantine for an extended period when ‘pinged’.
Instead, they must take a PCR test – and if this comes back negative they can be released from self-isolation.
Miss Sturgeon, 51, has already received two doses of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine.
As well as her appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Miss Sturgeon is also set to return to the Scottish parliament this week following the summer recess.
MSPs will be back at Holyrood from Tuesday with a Covid update planned for this week, as well as First Minister’s Questions.
Only hours before Miss Sturgeon’s revelation, chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith said contact tracing teams had carried out ‘exceptional work’ under ‘difficult circumstances’ this weekend.
Commenting on Twitter, he said: ‘Some exceptional work by contact tracing teams under very difficult circumstances today.
‘Thank you to everyone involved. But it’s frustrating & really disappointing to hear of increased aggressive behaviour & abuse to staff.
‘Please be civil and patient with those trying to help.’
‘Exceptional work by tracing teams’