Aberdeen outbreak remains `large and complex’ as new cases emerge

A further 28 Coronavirus cases have emerged in Grampian amid concerns that the outbreak linked to pubs in Aberdeen is continuing to spread.

Prof Jason Leitch warned outbreaks will take weeks to get under control

Nicola Sturgeon said today she is confident that the situation in the Granite City is gradually being "brought under control" but national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch warned that such outbreaks are likely to take weeks to get on top of.

The First Minister said today there have been 328 cases in the North east since July 26, with 198 believed to be linked to the Aberdeen outbreak.

There have been more than 1000 contacts identified linked to the outbreak.

"Contact tracing continues for what remains a very large and very complex outbreak," Ms Sturgeon said.

"We will continue to see new cases and new contacts identified in Aberdeen in the coming days.

"But we are hopeful that this is an outbreak that will be brought firmly under control."

The rate of increase has slowed in Aberdeen, but Prof Leitch warned that major clusters are likely to last weeks before the "curve" starts to bend downwards indicating a fall in fresh cases.

"In Grampian we think the curve has slowed," he said.

"The acceleration has slowed but we haven't yet bent the curve. In Melbourne, it took four weeks of their six week proposed lockdown in order to bend the curve.

"This weekend is week three of the Aberdeen lockdown. This virus unfortunately doesn't behave in 24 hour cycles - it behaves in week, fortnightly three week cycles."

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