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Coronavirus: Scotland remains in containment phase Number of Scottish coronavirus cases rises to 11
(about 3 hours later)
Coronavirus in Scotland remains "very much" in the containment phase, according to the country's chief medical officer. Five new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Scotland, bringing the total to 11.
Dr Catherine Calderwood told BBC's Good Morning Scotland she expects the number of case to rise from the current total of six in the coming days. The Scottish government said two of the new Covid-19 cases were in Fife, with one each in the Grampian, Forth Valley and Lothian health board areas.
The updated figures will be published by the Scottish government at 14:00. The first Scottish case of the virus was confirmed in Tayside on Sunday.
On Thursday a patient in England became the first in the UK to die after contracting coronavirus. The country's chief medical officer has previously warned that there could be a "rapid rise" in the number of cases in the coming days.
The UK's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitt told MPs health officials are moving towards the second phase of their response to the coronavirus outbreak. Dr Catherine Calderwood also said Scotland remained "very much" in the containment phase of its response to the outbreak, and urged people to continue to follow basic hygiene advice and - crucially - wash their hands for 20 seconds.
But Dr Calderwood compared the switch from the current containment phase to the next stage, delay, to a dimmer switch. Asked about the potential impact on major events, Dr Calderwood said: "The emerging scientific advice is that large-scale gatherings, particularly those in the open air probably don't make a big impact on the transmission of the virus in the community.
She said: "Where we are on the dial at the moment the switch is still in containment, very much in containment, and gradually that dial will move around to the delay phase."
Dr Calderwood urged people to continue to follow basic hygiene advice and, crucially, wash their hands for 20 seconds.
Asked about the potential impact on major events, she said: "The emerging scientific advice is that large-scale gatherings, particularly those in the open air probably don't make a big impact on the transmission of the virus in the community.
"We have the rugby at Murrayfield, Scotland v France, going ahead this weekend and I am absolutely sure that that is the right thing to do.""We have the rugby at Murrayfield, Scotland v France, going ahead this weekend and I am absolutely sure that that is the right thing to do."
Andrew Buist, chairman of BMA Scotland's GP committee, told the programme it was "very much business as usual". The latest figures bring the total number of cases in Grampian to three and Forth Valley to two.
Single cases had previously been confirmed in the Ayrshire and Arran and Greater Glasgow and Clyde health boards areas.
On Thursday a patient in England became the first in the UK to die after contracting coronavirus - with the UK's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitt telling MPs that health officials were moving towards the second phase of their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
But Dr Calderwood said the switch from the current containment phase to the "delay" stage would be like a dimmer switch.
She told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Where we are on the dial at the moment the switch is still in containment, very much in containment, and gradually that dial will move around to the delay phase."
Andrew Buist, chairman of BMA Scotland's GP committee, told the same programme that it was "very much business as usual".
He said: "The only difference in my practice is that we're having a daily team huddle to review the latest guidance and check all our systems are in place and ready for if and when activity of coronavirus increases.He said: "The only difference in my practice is that we're having a daily team huddle to review the latest guidance and check all our systems are in place and ready for if and when activity of coronavirus increases.
"We have a limited number of beds in Scotland and on any normal day, most of them are full."We have a limited number of beds in Scotland and on any normal day, most of them are full.
"A significant rise in the number of cases of coronavirus is going to put quite significant stress on NHS Scotland.""A significant rise in the number of cases of coronavirus is going to put quite significant stress on NHS Scotland."
Meanwhile, next month's Edinburgh International Harp Festival has been cancelled because of coronavirus.Meanwhile, next month's Edinburgh International Harp Festival has been cancelled because of coronavirus.
Organisers had arranged five days of concerts, as well as 40 courses, and expected 400 people to travel from all over the world.Organisers had arranged five days of concerts, as well as 40 courses, and expected 400 people to travel from all over the world.
They said the decision was taken by the host venue, Merchiston Castle School, where many visitors were scheduled to stay.They said the decision was taken by the host venue, Merchiston Castle School, where many visitors were scheduled to stay.
What do we know about the Scottish cases?What do we know about the Scottish cases?
The first case in Scotland was confirmed on Sunday evening, a further two were confirmed on Wednesday morning and the latest three were confirmed on Thursday morning. The first case in Scotland was confirmed on Sunday evening, with a further two on Wednesda and three more on Thursday.
The patients are from the Forth Valley, Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Grampian areas. On Friday the number increased to 11.
Dr Calderwood said clinicians were in the process of finding out more about who the infected patients had been in contact with.Dr Calderwood said clinicians were in the process of finding out more about who the infected patients had been in contact with.
It is understood the positive samples have been sent to Public Health England's WHO designated Colindale laboratory in London for confirmatory testing. It is understood the positive samples have been sent to Public Health England's Colindale laboratory in London for confirmatory testing.
The six Scottish cases takes the total UK number to 116. The 11 Scottish cases takes the total number of coronavirus cases in the UK to 163.
What do I need to know about the coronavirus?What do I need to know about the coronavirus?
The advice to people who believe they have symptoms is to stay at home and contact NHS24 or their GP.The advice to people who believe they have symptoms is to stay at home and contact NHS24 or their GP.
Evidence from around the world has suggested that for the vast majority of those infected the symptoms will be "very mild".Evidence from around the world has suggested that for the vast majority of those infected the symptoms will be "very mild".
Dr Calderwood had previously said that 80% of people in Scotland would have a mild form of the illness but 4% could require hospital treatment.Dr Calderwood had previously said that 80% of people in Scotland would have a mild form of the illness but 4% could require hospital treatment.
In the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said: "There will be difficult decisions potentially involved in this. Ministers will not take them lightly, equally we will not hesitate in doing exactly what is required to protect the public for as long and as best as we possibly can."In the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said: "There will be difficult decisions potentially involved in this. Ministers will not take them lightly, equally we will not hesitate in doing exactly what is required to protect the public for as long and as best as we possibly can."
The Scottish scientist developing a coronavirus vaccine
Scientist Kate Broderick hopes to have a vaccine ready to test on humans by the beginning of April.
The Fife-born scientist, of US-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals, told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime with John Beattie she wants to have one million doses ready by the end of 2020.
"The entire scientific community is working so incredibly diligently to find a solution here," she said.
"There's been a lot of talk of a vaccine race. I don't like to think about it like that. I like to think we're all just working towards a solution and as long as something works, that's what's most important."