THE Scottish Parliament may close to the public if the coronavirus outbreak worsens, it was announced yesterday.

Holyrood’s corporate body has said it will take scientific advice on the safety of the building remaining open to members of the public, should the numbers affected by the virus continue to rise.

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Hand sanitiser has already been installed at entrances, although the fingerprint authentication system at secure gates will continue.

Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Conservative leader, who is a member of the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB) told MSPs the group had met to discuss its approach to “pandemic planning”.

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“In terms of large gatherings, other legislatures such as the European Parliament have chosen to stop their engagement activities,” she said.

“To limit exposure to those that normally work in Holyrood we may choose to do the same if circumstances warrant that. But that would only be in the most extreme circumstances and would be informed by officials such as the Chief Medical Officer.”

Davidson said that the SPCB would continue to monitor the fast-moving situation and “steps may be increased in the future” if it becomes necessary.

She added: “The corporate body is mindful of its duty to employees and those who work at the Parliament, and at present our focus is on promoting hand and respiratory hygiene as the main measures.”

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On Wednesday it emerged the Houses of Parliament could shut their doors under UK Government plans to slow down the spread of the coronavirus.

Downing Street confirmed it was in talks with parliamentary authorities about a plan of action if the outbreak continues to get worse.

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According to a daily newspaper, Westminster could close for the Easter recess and not re-open again until after the summer.

One source told the paper: “We’ve got 650 people who spend half the week spread across the country meeting their constituents and the other half rubbing up against one another in Westminster. It’s 650 superspreaders.”

At PMQs Carol Monaghan, who is the SNP MP for Glasgow North West said: “Every week 650 of us come here from every part of the UK, spend several days operating in close proximity and meeting people from all over the world, and we then return to our constituencies, potentially becoming the very vectors that we are trying to shut down.”