Nicola Sturgeon urges Scots to ‘do the right thing’ as Covid cases rise again

Nicola Sturgeon has warned Scots to take coronavirus precautions “seriously” as she confirmed the “R” number – the number of Scots contracting the virus from an infected person – may now be as high as 1.4.

Members of the public get tested for Covid - 19 at a coronavirus mobile testing centre in West Dunbartonshire

The admission from the First Minister came as the first suspected cases of transmission in schools came to light, although national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch insisted this was not a major cause for concern.

It emerged last night that a number of Tesco workers at the Livingston distribution centre in West Lothian had tested positive for coronavirus and were self isolating at home.

An abattoir in the Highlands has also been shut down after an increase in cases in a Covid-19 cluster. Twenty-nine of the 31 cases in the Grantown on Spey area are linked to the town’s Millers of Speyside meat processing factory.

Police have also launched a probe in Midlothian after a rave was broken up over the weekend in a mansion house with about 300 people present.

Ms Sturgeon responded last night by labelling the behaviour “utterly irresponsible”.

“It’s hard to put into words how utterly irresponsible this kind of behaviour is in current circumstances,” she tweeted. “It puts people at risk and threatens our progress out of lockdown. PLEASE do not attend house parties just now.”

The number of fresh daily cases of Covid-19 recorded fell to 101 yesterday, but that comes against significant rises over the past week. There was also another new death from the virus announced yesterday, although this dates back to mid-August.

Ms Sturgeon also confirmed new cases in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area numbered 53, down on recent days, after fresh lockdown measures were imposed in Glasgow and other parts of the west of Scotland this week.

But the latest weekly report on transmission rates makes it clear the virus is rising again.

“We think the R number increased last week and that it is probably now above one – perhaps as high as 1.4,” Ms Sturgeon told the daily coronavirus briefing.

“I said recently that the R number is of slightly less concern when overall prevalence of the virus is low and overall prevalence of the virus is still low in Scotland right now.

“But nevertheless this is a further reminder that the virus is spreading again here, just like it is elsewhere in the UK, across Europe and indeed in the wider world.

“So it is a reminder for us to take this seriously and do all the right things.”

The latest modelling report published by the Scottish Government on prevalence of the virus in Scotland shows the R (reproduction) number now stands somewhere between 0.9 and 1.4 and is likely to be above one. It means every infected Scot is passing the virus onto more than one other person, resulting in case numbers rising.

It is the highest this figure has been since the Scottish Government started modelling the R number north of the Border in late May.

The confirmation came as health officials in Glasgow warned evidence of coronavirus spreading in two high schools in the city has emerged. The board has not named the schools, but said there was evidence of transmission of the virus “amongst a small number of cases”.

But Prof Leitch said it was difficult to be clear about where positive cases had emerged from. He said: “I have said I expect transmission to happen in schools. We’ve never said anything different.”

Prof Leitch said: “It may be that a few kids or a few teachers or a class at a time will have to be isolated. It’s not impossible that a school would have to close.

“We hope that would be kept to an absolute minimum.”

Questions have been raised over the approach to the new lockdown in the Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire council areas. The restrictions prevent resident entering other households, but stop short of the closure of hospitality businesses like pubs – a measure that had been imposed recently in Aberdeen.

But Ms Sturgeon said data being presented to government in the area showed a number of small, localised clusters had caused a spike in new cases.

Conceding the decision to leave hospitality businesses open was “counter-intuitive”, she added: “What I’m trying to set out is that the analysis that we now get from Test and Protect enables us to be much more targeted and proportionate, rather than what we were faced with earlier in the year of simply imposing a blanket lockdown everywhere that really meant everyone had to stay at home.

“Now, we try to be much more targeted, much more proportionate, but because these decisions are being guided by the analysis that has been done, hopefully these measures are effective.”

The First Minister said cases were increasing in various parts of the country, and the enforcement of additional measures in Glasgow should serve as a “wake-up call” to Scots.

It emerged yesterday that police were called to reports of a house party at Kirkhill House in Midlothian in the early hours of last Sunday morning and found 300 revellers at a “paid-for” event. The property itself can be rented on Airbnb for £1,500 a night.

Police are now investigating potential culpable and reckless conduct charges and licensing breaches.

Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said: “Those attending this organised event showed a blatant disregard for the regulations in place to help save lives and prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“Further investigations are being carried out with a view to what other charges may be brought, including culpable and reckless conduct.

“Anyone attempting to hold such an event, or any party in clear breach of the law, should be aware they will be met with a robust response from Police Scotland.”