In Scotland as of 2pm on 5th of March 2010 there are 6 positive cases of coronavirus recorded and 1250 tests were confirmed negative. These figures are updated at 2pm every day. Click here to access them: Coronavirus in Scotland

It is extremely important that the media is responsible in how it reports on COVID-19, ensuring what it publishes is factual and not doused in speculation or rumour.

It is also extremely important that the public feel they can contact their doctor and receive treatment without the intrusion into their privacy by the media. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours.

Dr Catherine Calderwood, Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer  said:

“With all these cases, our thoughts are with those diagnosed and their families.

“Clinicians are now conducting contact tracing, the process of gathering details of the places those who have tested positive visited and the people they have been in contact with.

“Close contact involves either face-to-face contact or spending more than 15 minutes within two metres of an infected person. The risk is very low in situations where someone may have passed a patient on the street or in a shop.

“Health protection teams will contact those who are at risk from the current cases – those who are not contacted are not at risk.

In the UK as a whole (as of 9am on 5 March 2020), 18,083 people have been tested in the UK, of which 17,968 were confirmed negative and 115 were confirmed as positive. COVID -19 UK

The advice for the public is straightforward.

How to avoid catching infections like coronavirus

You can reduce your risk of getting and spreading respiratory infections by:

• avoiding direct hand contact with your eyes, nose and mouth
• maintaining good hand hygiene – washing hands with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitiser:
  • after coughing or sneezing
  • after going to the toilet
  • before eating and drinking
• avoiding direct contact with people that have a respiratory illness and avoiding using their personal items such as their mobile phone
• covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing with disposable tissues and disposing of them in the nearest waste bin after use

[NHS Inform Coronavirus]

The four Governments of the UK have published a joint action plan in response to the global health threat from Coronavirus, COVID -19.

Click on this link:  4 Nations Coronavirus action plan

The Scottish Government has also published an action plan specific to the needs of Scotland.

Click on this link: Coronavirus: summary of response arrangements in Scotland

The 4 Nation Action Plan statement:

The current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which began in December 2019, presents a significant challenge for the entire world. The UK government and devolved administrations, including the health and social care system, have planned extensively over the years for an event like this. The UK is therefore well prepared to respond in a way that offers substantial protection to the public.

Covid – 19 is a version of coronavirus never seen in human’s before. This means we have not built up natural immunity to it and it will spread very quickly.

Based on current evidence, the main symptoms of COVID-19 are a cough, a high temperature and, in severe cases, shortness of breath.

Some people, mainly the elderly and those who have an existing condition,  may contract pneumonia if they are infected. This is extremely serious and may be life threatening.

The majority of people with COVID-19 have recovered without the need for any specific treatment, as is the case for the common cold or seasonal flu.

Containment

This is a period of Containment where the aim is to limit the spread of COVID – 19.

In Scotland Health Boards have powers to place restrictions on the activities of individuals who are known to have the disease, or have been exposed to the disease, and to prohibit them from entering or remaining in any place.

As part of the port health measures, direct flights arriving into the UK from countries within the UK’s CMOs’ case definition are required to provide a declaration (General Aircraft Declaration) to airport authorities stating that all their passengers are well, 60 minutes prior to landing. Similarly, The Maritime Health Declaration Form is required for all vessels arriving from any foreign port.

Many of the actions that people can take themselves – especially washing hands more; and the catch it, bin it, kill it strategy for those with coughs and sneezes – also help in delaying the peak of the infection.

If COVID -19 becomes established within the population extra measures will be activated.

More information, click on the links:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) from NHS Inform 

 The link has a guide so that you can check  what to do next if you have developed any of these symptoms and are worried about coronavirus:

• high temperature or fever
• cough
• shortness of breath

Recommendations for Travellers

The link includes advice and contacts for anyone thinking of travelling.

Symptoms of a coronavirus infection usually start up to 14 days after catching the infection.

COVID-19 – risk areas

The link gives the areas that are considered to be a risk for human-to-human transmission of COVID-19.

Daily updates detailing the number of concluded tests for coronavirus (COVID-19) originating from Scotland.

The link gives daily numbers of testing don in Scotland for COVID -19.

Ministerial Statement – COVID 19 Update

The link is the Statement by Jeane Freeman, Health Secretary in the Scottish Government and answers questions from MSPs

Jeane Freeman, Health Secretary in the Scottish Government

Jeane Freeman said:

“Scotland is well equipped to deal with infections of this kind and health boards and social care services plan and prepare for a range of emergencies in order to minimise disruption as far as possible.

“We have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues and follow the highest safety standard possible to protect health and social care staff, patients and the public.

“The NHS has been specifically preparing for the possibility of further spread of coronavirus since it was first detected in Wuhan and today’s planning information outlines the processes and protections in place to ensure a coordinated response to this outbreak.”