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Coronavirus: Sturgeon tells Scotland 'life will change significantly'

WATCH AGAIN: Nicola Sturgeon's coronavirus update, Monday, 16 March

Nicola Sturgeon has warned that life will change "significantly" in Scotland due to stringent new coronavirus measures.

The first minister said "we will get through this" as she reiterated the need for every citizen to reduce all non-essential social contact.

Households have been told to self-isolate for 14 days if one member has symptoms - either a new cough or fever.

There are now 171 cases of the virus in Scotland, up 18 since Sunday.

But the Scottish government cautioned that an apparent slowing in the rate of increase may be due to a change in the testing system.

Ms Sturgeon said the UK was "on the cusp" of a rapid acceleration in cases, with numbers likely to double every few days.

New measures announced on Monday include:

  • Stop all non-essential social contact and stop going to places with a high concentration of people such as pubs or cinemas
  • Ms Sturgeon said avoid "unnecessary travel" with the official government advice saying "avoid using public transport as much as possible"
  • Avoiding all social contact is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with some health conditions
  • Work from home if you can
  • Anyone living in a household with somebody who has either a persistent cough or fever must now also isolate themselves for 14 days
  • Very vulnerable people with compromised immune systems - estimated to be around 200,000 in Scotland - will be given tailored advice on self-isolation that could last a "period of weeks or months"

Ms Sturgeon said that the latest measures would "significantly change life as we know it for a considerable period of time".

She continued: "We must step up the measures that we take to slow the spread, to protect our NHS and its ability to provide care and treatment to those who need it and crucially, to save lives.

"I am acutely aware of the anxiety people will feel right now. We are all in this together. If we do the right things and all follow the advice being given, we can get through this and we will get through this."

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The first minister thanked NHS staff, saying it was "not possible to overstate" the pressure they are under.

She also said the Scottish government was "100% focused on doing everything we can" and would keep the public updated on a regular basis.

Scotland's chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said there was evidence in Scotland of "sustained community transmission".

She said the priority was to reduce the number of people coming into the NHS and prevent services - particularly intensive care and respiratory wards - from becoming "overwhelmed".

Extra funding

The UK government earlier announced Scotland would receive an additional £780m to fund its Covid-19 response.

The move is part of a £1.5bn funding package for the devolved administrations designed to bolster the NHS and provide grants for businesses.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the money was in addition to the funding package announced during last week's Budget.

The number of cases in Greater Glasgow and Clyde remains the highest in Scotland at 44.

The new statistics also reveal the first case of coronavirus has been recorded in Dumfries and Galloway.

Only two of Scotland's 14 health boards, Orkney and Western Isles, have yet to record a positive case.

The number of UK coronavirus deaths, which includes the first in Wales, is now 55.

Most of those who have died have been people over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions.

The total number of people in the UK to test positive for the virus has risen to 1,543, according to the latest Department of Health figures.

More than 44,000 people have been tested.

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