Lockdown reinstated if cases increase after restrictions are lifted

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 yesterday 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Before the powers will be rescinded, Dr Calderwood said the NHS will need to see the number of transmissions fall “very significantly”.

Meanwhile, a total of 10,000 Scots signed up to a volunteering campaign launched in the wake of the coronavirus crisis in just four hours, the first minister has announced.

The new Scotland Cares initiative went live yesterday morning.

Nicola Sturgeon said the total of those registering interest includes about 5,000 retired medical professionals and students.

“These new recruits will make an important difference to the capacity of our health and care services at this time.”

She said the overall number of volunteers showed “many people are responding to this difficult period by showing a sense of community and solidarity”.

At the Scottish Government’s daily Covid-19 briefing, she said: “In just four

“Entirely possible we would have to place them back down”

hours this morning since we formally launched the Scotland Cares campaign we have had 10,000 people registering their interest in volunteering.”

Scotland Cares has been set up to recruit volunteers to help combat the outbreak through a programme co-ordinated by the British Red Cross.

Volunteers will only be asked to carry out tasks that involve leaving their home once a day.

Only those who are not isolating or in health risk categories can take part.

Volunteers who want to support their communities should visit ReadyScotland.org

Dr Catherine Calderwood said the lockdown would be in place for at least 13 weeks