Scotland’s chief medical officer says there is “no scientific reason” to cancel the country’s Six Nations clashes with France this weekend following the spread of coronavirus.
The Scotland men’s side will face off against a grand slam-chasing France in Edinburgh on Sunday despite uncertainty surrounding the match following the spread of Covid-19 across the UK.
On Wednesday the Scottish Rugby Union’s chief operating officer Dominic McKay said all of the country’s weekend fixtures will go ahead as planned.
The Scotland women will play France at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday evening. The under-20s will take on the French on Friday evening at Netherdale in Galashiels.
And all three stadiums will offer primary care for anyone presenting themselves with symptoms of coronavirus.
There have now been three confirmed cases in Scotland with a total of 87 across the UK.
The increasing number of cases had prompted fears that the Scotland-France clashes would be called off.
The SRU has teamed up with Holyrood to implement a series of safeguards ahead of the country’s three scheduled games.
Measures being taken by the SRU include setting up primary care facilities at Murrayfield, Scotstoun and Netherdale stadiums.
These sites will be equipped with first aid practitioners ready to treat anyone presenting coronavirus symptoms. Medical staff will also be on-site on the grounds.
Hand sanitiser, which has become increasingly hard to source in shops following the outbreak of the disease, is also being distributed at the stadiums.
The SRU and NHS Scotland will also be issuing health guidance to rugby fans, players, officials, staff and others on game day.
Mr McKay said: “We have been working closely with the Scottish Government and can confirm that the Six Nations Scotland v France men’s, women’s and under-20 matches remain scheduled to be played this weekend.
“Scottish Rugby continues to work extremely closely with the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland in monitoring the Coronavirus situation. We are also in regular and constant dialogue with the Six Nations and our fellow unions.
“We have, and continue to, promote NHS Scotland hygiene advice and protocols with our staff, supporters and visitors to all rugby stadiums.
“We look forward to welcoming supporters to our events this weekend. Should matters and advice change we will provide a further update”
Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood said “there is no scientific reason for cancelling Scotland’s Six Nations fixtures at the weekend”.
READ | Scottish Rugby and @scotgov confirm major public health push at this weekend's Six Nations matcheshttps://t.co/I1UA015uQi
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 4, 2020
She added: “Our overriding consideration when making decisions on whether major sporting events and other public gatherings should go ahead is the health of the people in Scotland and those visiting from elsewhere.
“Our advice is based on the latest scientific understanding of coronavirus. Health Protection Scotland has looked at all the available evidence, including the situation in the UK and France, and has concluded that there is no scientific reason for cancelling Scotland’s Six Nations fixtures at the weekend.
“The Scottish Rugby team players and support staff have been working closely with us to ensure there is the strongest possible focus on protecting public health at the event and that key messages on how to prevent the spread of infection are widely promoted.
“We all have a key role to play in preventing the spread of infection by maintaining good hand hygiene, not touching your face, avoiding direct contact with people who have a cold or the flu as well as covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing with tissues and disposing of them in the nearest bin after use.
“This will be promoted both in the stadium and on transport to and from the game.
“Anyone who thinks they may have contracted the virus or been exposed to it should not attend the match and should follow the advice on NHS Inform.”
Earlier today, the two new Scottish cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Grampian and Ayrshire.
The Scottish Government said both patients were currently clinically well and were receiving appropriate clinical care.
One patient has recently travelled to northern Italy and the other has had contact with a known positive case – this contact was not with the first positive case confirmed in Scotland.
Clinicians have begun contact tracing, the process of gathering details of the places they have visited and the people they have been in contact with.
The government said it was important to note that this tracing process does not involve people the patients 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.
Those at risk of infection will be contacted by health protection teams for further advice. Those who are not contacted are not at risk.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Our first thoughts must be with the patients diagnosed with coronavirus, I wish them a full and speedy recovery.
“We expect the number of cases to rise and Scotland is well-prepared for a significant outbreak of coronavirus.
“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.”
