Coronavirus has arrived in Tayside.
The Scottish Government says the country’s first case of the virus has been confirmed in a patient recently returned from Italy.
The person is being treated in isolation in hospital.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that the first case may be the beginning of a “significant outbreak” but she stressed the authorities are well-prepared.
She said: “Our first thoughts must be with the patient diagnosed with coronavirus. I wish them a speedy recovery.
“Scotland is well-prepared for a significant outbreak of coronavirus but there is currently no treatment or vaccine. Early detection measures will continue to be vital in helping to prevent the spread of the virus.
Preparations to deal with what might be a significant outbreak are well advanced.
Nicola Sturgeon
“People have a vital role to play in helping us contain any outbreak by following the latest health and travel advice, and following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.”
In a further update on Twitter, the First Minister said she had chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Committee tonight “to ensure all necessary steps are being taken”.
NEW: After Scotland’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 @NicolaSturgeon says she’ll be joining the emergency COBRA meeting tomorrow chaired by @BorisJohnson pic.twitter.com/sZHLVHkDgC
— Tom Rayner (@RaynerSkyNews) March 1, 2020
She added: “Confirmation of a positive case is not unexpected and we are likely to see more in days ahead. Preparations to deal with what might be a significant outbreak are well advanced.”
Ms Sturgeon also confirmed she will take part in a COBRA meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday morning, before holding a further Scottish Resilience Committee session.
Scroll to end of article for live updates
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: “Firstly our thoughts are with the person who has been diagnosed, and with their family. I would like to thank all the health professionals who continue to be involved in their care and treatment.
“Scotland is well equipped to deal with infections of this kind. We have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues, and have been preparing for this possibility since the beginning of the outbreak in Wuhan.
“This is peak season for respiratory and flu-like illness. There will be people presenting with symptoms of acute respiratory illness but these cases are highly unlikely to be coronavirus (COVID-19).
“We practice and prepare our response to disease outbreaks and follow tried and tested procedures, following the highest safety standards possible for the protection of NHS staff, patients and the public.”
A patient has been diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland: https://t.co/QF15XT1HcF pic.twitter.com/5xrOBNaoXa
— Scottish Government (@scotgov) March 1, 2020
Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said: “Partners in Tayside, including Dundee City Council, have been working on resilience plans in the event of such cases and NHS Tayside is well prepared.”
He urged people to stick to the official hygiene advice and added: “I’m in contact with officials who will no doubt be working through the well-thought out plans that have been developed over the last couple of weeks/months.”
The positive sample has been sent to Public Health England’s Colindale laboratory in London for a confirmatory test.
The World Health Organisation says that only one in 20 people who contract the virus become critically ill.
Rapid spread of disease
The coronavirus outbreak began in the Wuhan area of China last year when several cases of pneumonia were identified, caused by an unknown virus.
This was identified on January 7 as a new form of coronavirus.
Two weeks later the Chinese authorities closed Wuhan’s airport in a bid to halt the spread of the disease.
But since then cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the US, Europe, Japan and Middle East.
Scottish Government statement in full:
A patient has been diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland.
Following a positive test result for the virus, they are being admitted to hospital and are currently receiving treatment in isolation.
The patient is a resident of the Tayside area and has recently travelled from northern Italy. Clinicians have already begun contact tracing, the process of gathering details of the places they have visited and the people they have been in contact with since returning to the UK.
It is important to note that this does not involve people the patient may have passed on the street or in a shop as the risk in these situations is very low. Close contact involves either face to face contact or spending more than 15 minutes within two metres of an infected person.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Committee (SGoRR) this evening and will be taking part in the UK Government’s resilience (COBR) meeting chaired by the Prime Minister tomorrow morning to ensure all necessary steps are being taken to prepare for further expected cases in Scotland. SGoRR will meet again later tomorrow.
There have been a total of 698 negative test results in Scotland since the start of the outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
According to Scottish and UK protocol all patients presenting with a history and symptoms which may be suggestive of coronavirus will be isolated and appropriate infection prevention and control measures put in place.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Our first thoughts must be with the patient diagnosed with coronavirus, I wish them a speedy recovery.
“Scotland is well-prepared for a significant outbreak of coronavirus but there is currently no treatment or vaccine. Early detection measures will continue to be vital in helping to prevent the spread of the virus.
“People have a vital role to play in helping us contain any outbreak by following the latest health and travel advice, and following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.”
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: “Firstly our thoughts are with the person who has been diagnosed, and with their family. I would like to thank all the health professionals who continue to be involved in their care and treatment.
“Scotland is well equipped to deal with infections of this kind. We have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues, and have been preparing for this possibility since the beginning of the outbreak in Wuhan.
“This is peak season for respiratory and flu-like illness. There will be people presenting with symptoms of acute respiratory illness but these cases are highly unlikely to be coronavirus (COVID-19).
“We practice and prepare our response to disease outbreaks and follow tried and tested procedures, following the highest safety standards possible for the protection of NHS staff, patients and the public.”
