Army in place at Glasgow's SEC amid plans for pandemic field hospital

Field hospitals have been deemed necessary to cope with the yet-to-come peak of the pandemic.

Soldiers have been seen today entering the SEC in Glasgow as plans for field hospitals across the country step up a gear.

This week, Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood revealed plans for the measures – to deal with the expected rise in coronavirus cases – were underway.

The army at the SEC today. Picture: John Devlin

She said: “We have had quite detailed discussions very recently and I know that there are sites being considered in Scotland this week.”

It is understood officers from the Royal Engineers could be assessing the SEC for its suitability.

Today, the number of coronavirus-related deaths in Scotland rose by seven to 40.

Across the UK, the number of people to have died after contracting the virus passed 1000.

In London, the Excel centre has been set up as a makeshift hospital with 4000 beds, while the NEC in Birmingham is also reportedly being considered for a major field hospital.