SCOTLAND is at the start of a third wave of coronavirus as the number of cases and hospitalisations continue to rise, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister said that although the government, off the back of the success of the vaccine programme, will be able to move away from more restrictive ways of dealing with the pandemic – the position just now is still “fragile”.
Sturgeon said that experts have said not just Scotland but also the UK are “at the start of a third wave”.
It comes as she said that the number of cases has tripled over the last month, and the 992 new positive cases reported yesterday is the highest number since February 17.
READ MORE: Douglas Ross and five Tory MSPs test negative for coronavirus
The R number is now estimated to be above 1, with the number of people hospitalised with the virus rising to over 100 in the past week and although intensive care numbers are stable, the FM said there had been an “uptick” in cases in recent days.
Speaking during yesterday’s Covid-19 briefing in St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh, the First Minister said that the vaccine programme is progressing “extremely well” but that Scotland is at a “critical juncture” in the pandemic crisis.
She said: “On the downside, as we can see cases are rising again, they have more than tripled over the last month, and today the more than 900 cases that have been reported is the highest number of new cases since the 17th of February.
“The R number is now estimated to be above 1, indeed many experts believe that not just Scotland but the UK is at the start of a third wave of Covid. Underlying this and indeed driving all of this is the new Delta variant that makes up the majority of new cases in Scotland.
“This variant is thought to be significantly more transmissible than even the Kent variant that we were dealing with at the turn of the year.”
The First Minister explained that the early data on the new variant suggests it may “increase the risk of hospitalisation”.
She said: “Now, hopefully vaccines are reducing overall the risk of hospitalisation, but even if it is a lower risk the early data suggests this new Delta variant has a higher risk than the variants that went before it.”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon issues warning as she confirms latest restriction levels
She added the data was still under investigation, but warned the public that the virus hasn’t yet gone away.
She said: “All of that obviously gives us cause for concern. Throughout this, I’ve never tried to shy away from saying to you when we’re in a period that should make all of us sit up and remember that this virus isn’t done with us yet.
“That said, there is an upside now too, which we didn’t have at the start of the first or second waves – and that is, of course, the vaccines.
“We need to analyse the data on an ongoing basis – so it is too early to be definitive.
“But the strong indications so far are that vaccines are weakening the link between rising cases and hospitalisations, intensive care, and people dying.
“Now, that is really encouraging, and it is that that is giving us hope that we can move beyond the very restrictive approach to dealing with Covid that has been necessary for the past year, or in fact more than a year.
“But, although that link appears to be weakening, it hasn’t yet been completely broken.
Hospital admissions are rising. The number of people in hospital with Covid has risen above 100 during the last week, and the number of people in intensive care has also increased.”
It came as the First Minister urged the public to go for their vaccination when invited. She said: “The single most important thing is to get vaccinated, when you get the invitation to come forward for your jag.
“And make sure you attend to get both doses. It is only with a second dose that you get significant protection against the virus.”
READ MORE: ‘Marked increase’ in people suffering with long Covid for at least a year
She added: “Whatever age we are, vaccination reduces our chances of getting seriously ill from Covid, and getting vaccinated will also help keep our family, friends and neighbours safe. It really is part of the public, civic duty as citizens we owe to each other as well as ourselves.”
It comes as Scotland recorded two deaths of Covid-19 patients and 992 new cases in the past 24 hours. The death toll under this daily measure, of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days, is now 7676. The daily test positivity rate is 3.9%, up from 2.8% the previous day.
Meanwhile, a total of 116 people were in hospital on Thursday with recently confirmed Covid-19, up six from the day before, with eight patients in intensive care, no change.
So far, 3,326,005 people have received the first dose of a Covid-19 jag and 2,170,570 their second dose.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel