Coronavirus checks for all flu patients as first Scot tests positive
●Protection plans stepped up as medics hunt for ‘close contacts’ in Tayside case
Scotland’s first positive case of coronavirus has been confirmed, as testing was increased to try to contain the spread of the disease.
The Scottish Government said the patient who was confirmed as having contracted covid-19 yesterday was a resident of Tayside who had recently travelled from Italy and was being treated in isolation at a hospital.
Medical staff are working to trace the people who had been in close contact with the patient since their return to the UK, to try to prevent a widespread infection.
Close contact means either face-toface contact or a period of 15 minutes or more in close proximity.
The confirmed case came as testing for coronavirus in Scotland was extended to include people with flu-like symptoms who have not visited affected areas.
It was not known if the conformed case was one of thousands of Scotland fans who recently travelled to Rome for Scotland’s Six Nations match against Italy, although no specific advice for supporters to be tested was issued.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Our first thoughts must be with the patient diagnosed with coronavirus, I wish them a speedy recovery.
“Scotland is well prepared for a significant outbreak of coronavirus but there is currently no treatment or vaccine.
Early detection measures will continue to be vital in helping to prevent the spread of the virus.
“People have a vital role to play in helping us contain any outbreak by following the latest health and travel advice and following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.”
Ms Sturgeon chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Committee yesterday and was to join the UK government’s resilience meeting chaired by the Prime Minister this morning “to ensure all necessary steps are being taken to prepare for further expected cases in Scotland”.
So far 698 tests have been carried out north of the Border, the Scottish Government said. Yesterday also saw
12 new patients identified in England, taking the UK total to 36.
According to Scottish and UK protocol, all patients presenting with a history and symptoms which may be suggestive of coronavirus will be isolated and appropriate infection prevention and control measures put in place.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused to rule out extreme measures such as shutting down cities, as he conceded it was “inevitable” that the deadly virus would continue to spread across the UK.
The stepping-up of the testing regime is seen as a precaution to help detection of cases and limit the spread of an outbreak in Scotland.
The drastic measure would replicate those seen in other cities, as the global community seeks to prevent mass infection.
Iran, where more than 978 people are infected and 54 people have died from the disease, has closed its holiest sites to foreign pilgrims, while professional baseball teams played in deserted stadiums in Japan. Officials in France advised residents to forgo customary greeting kisses.
Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan announced they would close, and big events were cancelled, including a concert series by the K-pop supergroup BTS.
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, said: “Firstly, our thoughts are with the person who has been diagnosed, and
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer with their family. I would like to thank all the health professionals who continue to be involved in their care and treatment.
“Scotland is well equipped to deal with infections of this kind. We have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues and have been preparing for this possibility since the beginning of the outbreak in Wuhan.
“This is peak season for respiratory and flu-like illness. There will be people presenting with symptoms of acute respiratory illness but these cases are highly unlikely to be coronavirus.
“Hospitals and GP surgeries will now conduct tests on some patients with coughs, fevers or shortness of breath, regardless of whether they have travelled to a place where the virus is known to be spreading.
“People have a vital role to play in helping us contain any outbreak by following the latest health and travel advice and following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.”
Using existing NHS monitoring measures, a network of 41 GP practices will start sending samples for testing from patients who report symptoms such as coughs, fevers and shortness of breath.
More than 86,000 people worldwide have contracted the virus in almost 60 countries, with deaths topping 2,900. Many cases of the virus have been relatively mild and some of those infected apparently show no symptoms at all – something which has helped the virus to spread.
The Scottish Government has implemented a range of measures, including training Scottish Ambulance Service staff to support the transport of patients who may be infectious, and has delivered face masks to GP practices as a precaution.
Three of the new cases in England were close contacts of a known covid-19 case that was transmitted within the UK – believed to be a Surrey resident.
Mr Hancock did not rule out following China’s lead in shutting down cities if the outbreak escalates, as he outlined a new “battle plan” by the government yesterday.
On isolating entire cities, as Chinese authorities did with Wuhan, Mr Hancock told the BBC’S Andrew Marr programme: “There is clearly a huge economic and social downside to that.
“But we don’t take anything off the table at this stage because you have to make sure you have all the tools available if that is what is necessary.”
At a Public Health England centre in Colindale, north London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “very, very confident” that the NHS is able to cope, adding: “It’s vital that people understand that we do have a great plan, a plan to tackle the spread of coronavirus.”
Mr Johnson said the best way to stop the spread of the virus was handwashing, adding: “20 seconds – two times Happy Birthday I’m told – with hot water and soap.
“The crucial thing is, as I say, the public does what it can, we all do what we can to stop the spread ourselves.”
Italian authorities said yesterday that the number of people infected with coronavirus in the country had risen 40 per cent to 1,576 in 24 hours, with 34 deaths.
“Scotland is well equipped to deal with infections of this kind and we have been preparing for this since the beginning of the outbreak.”
DR CATHERINE CALDERWOOD
Expert warns COP26 could be cancelled in devastating blow to Scotland’s hospitality industry
The country’s leading microbiologist has warned that Glasgow’s United Nations COP26 climate change conference could be cancelled because of the coronavirus crisis.
It would deal a devastating blow to Scotland’s hospitality industry, which is gearing up for one of the biggest events ever held in the city. Up to 90,000 delegates and 200 world leaders are due to travel to Glasgow for ten days of talks on how to save the planet later this year.
However, major events are now being cancelled world-wide in an attempt to cut down on human-tohuman contact.
The Geneva Motor