Jason Leitch: You can't get Covid-19 twice, masks 'don't work for public'

Jason Leitch appeared on BBC Radio this morning to help dispel myths about COVID-19

Speaking on Good Morning Scotland the country’s national clinical director said that it was “not true” that it was possible to get coronavirus more than once, adding: “Science around the world says that you do not get this virus twice.

“This is not the first version of corona we have seen, we know how coronaviruses behave. You don’t get it twice.”

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Professor Jason Leitch appeared on GMS to discuss coronavirusProfessor Jason Leitch appeared on GMS to discuss coronavirus
Professor Jason Leitch appeared on GMS to discuss coronavirus
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Professor Leitch was also asked to clarify the efficacy of face masks when combating the spread of the virus.

He responded: “Masks are useful if you have the disease and useful for health care workers who are working with people who have the disease but global evidence shows that masks in the general population don't work.

“This virus is not airborne - has to be spread by droplets. If this was in the air, the instructions would be very different.”

Prof Leitch's comments came the day after Scotland had the biggest daily increase in coronavirus related deaths since the outbreak began.

A total of 126 patients have now died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

The figure is a rise of 50 from 76 on Wednesday, although First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the total includes 40 deaths that "should be distributed over a number of days" as they had "not previously been notified due to delays in family liaison".

Official statistics show 2,602 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up 292 on the previous day.

The First Minister said 162 people are in intensive care with Covid-19, up 15 from Wednesday's figure.

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She added a new reporting system will be put in place, meaning the daily figure of confirmed deaths will not rely solely on health boards but will also include data from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) death registration process.

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