The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Coronavirus crisis
First Scottish death as UK cases hit 798 Inverness Caley Thistle player in self-isolation Sports fixtures and events suspended
The first death of a coronavirus patient has been confirmed in Scotland, as the pandemic saw all football matches postponed and other events called off.
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said she was “saddened to report” a patient being treated for Covid-19 had died.
She said the patient, who was being treated by NHS Lothian, was an older person with pre-existing medical conditions.
It came as the number of cases in Scotland increased to 85.
Dr Calderwood said: “I am saddened to report that a patient in Scotland who has tested positive for coronavirus has died in hospital. I offer my deepest sympathy to their friends and family at this difficult time.
“The patient, who was being treated by Lothian Health Board, was an older person who had underlying health conditions.
“No further information will be available to protect patient confidentiality.”
The confirmation came after the SPFL announced the postponement of all fixtures, with tomorrow’s Old Firm clash between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox among those affected.
In addition, the Wales v Scotland
Six Nations game in Cardiff today has been postponed, while the Aye Write literary festival in Glasgow this month has been cancelled along with Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Dundee – which was due to take place in May.
The latest test figures show 3,314 people have been checked for Covid-19, with 3,229 of those tests proving negative and 85 positive – a rise of 25 on Thursday’s total.
Greater Glasgow and Clyde now has the highest number of confirmed cases with 21, followed by Lothian with 20 and Grampian with 11.
Tayside, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Forth Valley, Fife, Shetland and the Borders health boards also have confirmed cases.
On Thursday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced large gatherings which require emergency service support or could impact the health service would cease from Monday in Scotland to “remove unnecessary burdens” on frontline services.
However, Professor Jason Leitch, who is responsible for planning in the Scottish NHS, said yesterday that more “draconian measures” such as closing borders, stopping travel and halting public transport would risk creating further problems in the future.
On the potential for school closures, Mr Leitch said they are “not necessarily going to happen” as he explained children having to be looked after and their apparent lower contagion are two key reasons for not shutting them at this stage.
However, Lanark Grammar School has temporarily closed for deep cleaning after a case of the virus was confirmed there.
Shetland Council said some schools will close to children next week “for operational and resilience reasons”, not for public health reasons, but will remain open for staff.
NHS Lanarkshire, meanwhile, has begun restricting visiting hours at its hospitals.
Patients will be able to receive a maximum of two visitors between 3- 4pm and then 7-8pm.
More coronavirus coverage, Pages 14, 15, 16 and 18
Sport grinds to halt, Back page
“The patient was an older person who had underlying health conditions”