Covid-19 outbreak in Dumfries and Galloway 'under control'

Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish Government is seeking further assurances to ensure the outbreak is contained.

The outbreak of Covid-19 is 'under control', said the First Minister

The Covid-19 outbreak in Dumfries and Galloway is “under control” the First Minister said at her daily briefing in Edinburgh.

Parts of Dumfries and Galloway including Annan, Gretna and Dumfries had been under an effective cordon since Thursday due to a spike in cases of coronavirus, with a selection of postcodes not allowed to travel more than five miles.

However, following further contact tracing and testing, only one additional positive case was discovered and 23 people were contact traced, Nicola Sturgeon said.

She said the outbreak was now “under control” but that the Scottish Government was seeking “final assurances” about the outbreak before lifting the restrictions tomorrow.

The First Minister said: “I can report today that since last Thursday only one additional case has been identified which brings the total number of cases within this cluster to 12.

“In total 23 contacts have been traced and they have all been offered testing and they are all now self-isolating.

“As a result we are now as confident as we can be that this cluster is under control. However we are seeking some final assurances and information today around the situation at Carlisle Hospital and more generally in Cumbria.

“But I am very hopeful that following a further review later today that we will be able to lift the restrictions for Dumfries and Galloway tomorrow.”

Ms Sturgeon thanked those living in the area for their “cooperation and patience”, as well as the public health staff involved in managing the cluster.

She added: “This will not be the last localised outbreak that we see. There will be further occasions in other parts of Scotland where we may have to ask people to restrict their activities as an outbreak is contained.

“But that is the reality of trying to control a virus for which we have not yet any treatment and no vaccine. It is only by complying with strict control measures that we will be able to keep the virus under control and hopefully reduce the number of outbreaks that we face.”

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