Red Cross to lead ‘army of volunteers’ to support Scottish NHS
●Sturgeon bows to calls for scheme amid warnings crisis ‘will last months’
An army of volunteers will boost the NHS in its fight against coronavirus after Nicola Sturgeon revealed that a national scheme to harness the desire of those who want to help will be launched today.
The campaign, Scotland Cares, will allow people to sign up to become a “community reserve volunteer” under the auspices of the Red Cross, while others can choose to join existing voluntary efforts of local organisations through Volunteer Scotland.
The move comes a week after the UK Government asked for volunteers in England and Wales, and after growing demands in Scotland for a similar national coordinated effort.
Announcing the campaign, which will launch on TV and radio, the First Minister said the best way to support the NHS was still “for all of us to follow the rules and stay at home as much as possible”. She also disclosed that another person had died from coronavirus in Scotland, taking the death toll here to 41, with 95 people being treated in intensive care.
Ms Sturgeon said 1,324 people had tested positive for the virus – a rise of 139 in 24 hours – as she unveiled new measures to ensure that all NHS staff and care workers will receive the personal protection equipment (PPE) they need to keep safe.
She also said legislation would be brought forward in Holyrood this week to ensure that no tenant is evicted during the outbreak.
Ms Sturgeon said the government knew that many fit and healthy people were looking to help during the crisis.
“Over the past week the Scottish Government has been working with a number of partners to tap into and utilise that desire to help,” she said. “We wanted to take a bit of time to get this right so when people are signing up to be volunteers we know that that offer can be acted upon as quickly as possible.
“Scotlandcareswillencouragepeople to volunteer if they’re in a position to do so and make it easier for them to register their interest.”
She said people should go to the readyscotland.org website, where they would be able to choose from a number of options. For instance, returning health service and care workers will be directed to information about arrangements already in
Dogs should be social distancing when outdoors, according to a Scottish animal welfare charity.
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said there was no evidence to suggest pets are susceptible to the coronavirus but warned the animals can carry it on their coats, like any other surface.
Mr Flynn said it was vital to exercise pets during the pandemic but said dogs, like their owners, should stay apart to minimise the chance of it spreading.
He said: “As the advice stands at the moment, a domestic dog cannot spread the virus to a person.
“But if someone with the virus sneezes on a dog, the virus can be on its coat the same as any other surface.
“At the moment there is nothing to stop you taking your dog out responsibly. Follow the social distancing guidelines – keep at least two metres away from everybody else and don’t let your dog run up to other people.
“You may be perfectly fine but, if the other person is carrying the coronavirus and coughs or sneezes on your dog, it will be carrying the virus on its coat.
“To reduce the risks, keep your dog on a lead at all times, don’t let dogs mix with other dogs and don’t let other people touch your dog.”
The Scottish Government issued coronavirus guidance to animal owners over the weekend.
Rural affairs minister Mairi Gougeon said: “If your household is self-isolating, take time to plan how you will exercise your pet, ensuring that you avoid all contact with other members of the public.
“If you are too unwell to care for your pet and do not have anyone nearby who can help, please phone the Scottish SPCA animal helpline for further advice and support. As everyone must observe social distancing rules, all animal owners should take time to consider suitable areas to walk or exercise their pets, avoiding contact with other people.”
The Scottish SPCA has closed its nine animal rescue and rehoming centres to the public and suspended rehoming.