Coronavirus in Scotland: Sixty more cases detected

One other 60 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been detected in Scotland, together with 39 in the NHS Grampian space.

A cluster of linked cases was found in Aberdeen final week, resulting in lockdown restrictions being reintroduced in the town.

Scotland’s nationwide medical director Jason Leitch mentioned 110 cases had been linked to the Aberdeen outbreak, with more anticipated to be confirmed.

They embody two gamers at Aberdeen FC.

The gamers have been amongst a gaggle of eight footballers who visited a bar in the town every week in the past. The entire group at the moment are self-isolating.

• Covid-19 in Scotland: The place are the most recent cases?

Mr Leitch informed BBC Scotland that the rise of 60 cases was “not surprising” however “nonetheless worries us”.

He mentioned it was troublesome to make certain how lots of the 39 new cases in NHS Grampian have been linked to the Aberdeen cluster.

“We all know that at 15:30 yesterday we had 110 cases related to this outbreak,” he mentioned.

“We permit take a look at and shield to do its work, quite than be always sending us hourly updates and that is the way in which it needs to be. I might anticipate various these positives to be related.”

Mr Leitch mentioned the Scottish authorities was working to stop group transmission outdoors the Aberdeen outbreak.

“We wish to discover every of those cases, break the chain, self-isolate the individuals in order that we will get these numbers down once more and Grampian can return to regular – or semi-normal – like the remainder of the nation,” he informed the BBC.

However the medical director added that the consequences of the native lockdown in Aberdeen might not be seen for “days, even weeks”.

Aberdeen has seen a complete of 112 new coronavirus cases in the seven days as much as 7 August – a fee of 49 infections per 100,000 individuals.

This compares to a fee of 80.6 in Blackburn with Darwen in Lancashire, which is at the moment prime of Public Health England’s local authority watchlist.

On Friday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon mentioned it was “unacceptable” the Aberdeen footballers had gone to the Soul Bar final Saturday.

Photographs have been shared on social media displaying queues of individuals gathered outdoors the bar, which is one among about 30 venues now linked to the cluster.

The gamers involved have now launched a press release apologising for his or her actions, saying they by no means “might have foreseen the escalation of Covid-19 cases in the Grampian space”.

Additionally they deny intentionally making an attempt to “flaunt or disobey authorities tips”.

“As a participant group, we as soon as once more apologise unreservedly to the followers, the supervisor, the board and all of the workers on the membership,” the assertion provides.

The lockdown restrictions which have been reintroduced for the town’s 228,000 residents embody:

• to not journey more than 5 miles for leisure or holidays
• to not journey to the town for leisure or to go to family and friends, even should you reside in Aberdeenshire
• in case you are at the moment visiting the town, you possibly can keep – however take essential precautions when returning residence
• no indoor visits with different households
• bars, cafes, eating places and pubs should shut, though takeaways can stay open.

The restrictions might be reviewed subsequent Wednesday and could also be prolonged additional if required.