THE first death has occurred in Scotland of a patient who had contracted the coronavirus, chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood confirmed yesterday.
She announced the development yesterday afternoon, describing the patient an older person with underlying health conditions. The patient died in a hospital in the Lothians, but no further details of the case were made public.
Making the announcement, Calderwood said: “I am saddened to report that a patient in Scotland who has tested positive for coronavirus has died in hospital. I offer my deepest sympathy to their friends and family at this difficult time.”
She said the patient had been being treated by Lothian Health Board, and was an older person who had pre-existing health conditions.
“No further information will be available to protect patient confidentiality,” she added.
A total of 85 people in the county have tested positive for coronavirus, according to the latest Scottish Government figures. The number is up 25 from Thursday and overall, 3314 tests have taken place.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has 21 confirmed cases, with 20 in Lothian and 11 in Grampian. Shetland, Tayside, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Forth Valley, Fife, and the Borders also have cases.
On Thursday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced large gatherings which require emergency service support or could impact the health service would cease from Monday in Scotland to “remove unnecessary burdens” on front-line services.
It emerged yesterday that NHS Lanarkshire has begun restricting visiting hours at its hospitals.
Patients will be able to receive a maximum of two visitors between 3pm and 4pm, and then 7pm-8pm.
Susan Friel, director of nursing for acute services at the health board, said: “We are asking friends and relatives to only visit patients at our hospitals if absolutely essential.
“For patients in critical care areas and those receiving end-of-life care, visitors can discuss visiting times locally with the senior charge
nurse/nurse in charge of the ward.”
Ministers in Scotland were warned that coronavirus could push more people into poverty unless the UK and Scottish governments protect low earners.
In letters to the First Minister and UK Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey, chairman of the Poverty and Inequality Commission Bill Scott called for more action to reduce any impact the Covid-19 outbreak could have on people on low incomes and the self-employed.
The commission, which gives independent advice to the Scottish Government on tackling poverty, has asked the First Minister what plans are in place if schools are closed and children are unable to receive free school meals.
Writing to Coffey, Scott urged her to extend statutory sick pay to those who earn less than £118 per week – estimated to be two million workers – and to the self-employed.
Scott also issued a call for the UK Government to “immediately lift work search requirements” as the outbreak could affect those needing to use public computers.
He said: “The coronavirus outbreak risks driving more people into poverty as those who are sick or self-isolating lose pay.
“While I welcome the action that has been taken by the UK and Scottish governments so far, more action is needed to protect the self-employed and low earners, who are least likely to have savings to support them through loss of earnings or a waiting period for Universal Credit.”
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has postponed the May 7 council elections in England for a year due to the crisis.
A spokeswoman for the Government said the Prime Minister has delayed the local, mayoral and police and crime commission elections until May 2021 amid warnings voters would be heading to polling stations during the height of the outbreak.
Both the Electoral Commission and Labour had earlier called on the PM to take action to delay the votes. A Government spokeswoman said: “We will bring forward legislation to postpone local, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections until May next year.”
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