Health chiefs in Fife have pleaded with members of the public to heed advice to protect themselves and others following the region’s first coronavirus deaths.
The stark warning came as official Scottish Government statistics on Thursday revealed the number of positive cases identified in Fife had risen to 40 from 29 the previous day.
The Courier has learned at least two people from the Kingdom have now died as a result of contracting Covid-19.
Emergency services were called to a property in Glenrothes over the weekend after a man, believed to have been in his mid-60s, became unwell.
It is understood he was rushed to Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital and was put on a ventilator but passed away.
The man’s family declined to comment..
Meanwhile, test results have also suggested Covid-19 caused the death of a second Fife patient earlier this week.
The male pensioner, who is understood to be from the Cowdenbeath area, passed away on Monday and is said to have had underlying health issues.
No further details have yet emerged on that case.
Relatives of the two men who died have been told to self-isolate for the next 14 days to and efforts to trace people they may have been in contact with are ongoing.
Dr Chris McKenna, NHS Fife medical director, urged Fifers to keep social distancing, avoid contact with people with symptoms, avoid large and small gatherings, steer clear of non-essential use of public transport and limit face-to-face contact with friends and family.
He said: “We are really starting to see the effects of COVID-19 disease in Fife, both in our hospitals and in our community.
“If we are to protect the most vulnerable in our society and the precious resources NHS Fife has then there are some simple steps that we need all people to take in order to limit the spread of the virus.
“Your actions will have a noteable effect on the health of those around you.”
The health board has also been forced to deny that a ‘do not resuscitate’ policy is in place in relation to coronavirus patients, following claims from sources within wards.
Dr McKenna stressed no such policy exists.
“The care we provide to all patients is person centred, with any clinical decisions made based entirely on the individual and their particular circumstances,” he said.
