Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland is 'ready for significant outbreak of coronavirus' as she heads to a cobra meeting today. The First Minister chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Committee (SGoRR) on Sunday evening and is expected to take part in the UK Government's Cobra meeting chaired by Boris Johnson later today. Sturgeon said: "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." It comes after a Tayside resident who recently travelled from Italy became the first person in Scotland to be diagnosed with coronavirus. The person, who has not been named, has been admitted to hospital and is currently receiving treatment in isolation. The SNP leader said: "Our first thoughts must be with the patient diagnosed with coronavirus, I wish them a speedy recovery." Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: "Firstly our thoughts are with the person who has been diagnosed, and with their family. "I would like to thank all the health professionals who continue to be involved in their care and treatment." The statement said clinicians had begun tracing the person's contacts and gathering details of the places they have visited and the people they have been in contact with since returning to the UK. Close contact involved face to face contact or spending more than 15 minutes within two metres of an infected person, rather than simply passing in a street or a shop, the statement said. There have been a total of 698 negative tests in Scotland since the outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan, but further cases are expected, the Scottish Government said. Health officials are to begin testing some people with flu-like symptoms for the virus even if they have not visited affected areas. Dr Calderwood said: "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. "Not everyone with flu will be tested, but this is a sensible step to take as a precautionary measure to give us an early warning of community transmission. "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." The stepping up of the testing regime has been described as a precautionary measure, but it is thought it
Nicola Sturgeon,Scottish National Party,Scottish Government,Boris Johnson,Coronavirus,
Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland is 'ready for significant outbreak of coronavirus' as she heads to a cobra meeting today. The First Minister chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Committee (SGoRR) on Sunday evening and is expected to take part in the UK Government's Cobra meeting chaired by Boris Johnson later today. Sturgeon said: "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." It comes after a Tayside resident who recently travelled from Italy became the first person in Scotland to be diagnosed with coronavirus. The person, who has not been named, has been admitted to hospital and is currently receiving treatment in isolation. The SNP leader said: "Our first thoughts must be with the patient diagnosed with coronavirus, I wish them a speedy recovery." Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: "Firstly our thoughts are with the person who has been diagnosed, and with their family. "I would like to thank all the health professionals who continue to be involved in their care and treatment." The statement said clinicians had begun tracing the person's contacts and gathering details of the places they have visited and the people they have been in contact with since returning to the UK. Close contact involved face to face contact or spending more than 15 minutes within two metres of an infected person, rather than simply passing in a street or a shop, the statement said. There have been a total of 698 negative tests in Scotland since the outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan, but further cases are expected, the Scottish Government said. Health officials are to begin testing some people with flu-like symptoms for the virus even if they have not visited affected areas. Dr Calderwood said: "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. "Not everyone with flu will be tested, but this is a sensible step to take as a precautionary measure to give us an early warning of community transmission. "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." The stepping up of the testing regime has been described as a precautionary measure, but it is thought it
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