The first death from COVID-19 in Scotland has just been confirmed - the patient was an older person in the Lothians who had underlying health conditions
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Catherine Calderwood said:
“I am saddened to report that a patient in Scotland who has tested positive for coronavirus has died in hospital. I offer my deepest sympathy to their friends and family at this difficult time.
“The patient, who was being treated by Lothian Health Board was an older person who had underlying health conditions. No further information will be available to protect patient confidentiality.”
The news follows the latest update in coronavirus figures released at 2pm today (13 March). The update said that there are nine new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Lothians, with 85 found throughout Scotland.
Elsewhere, there are a total of 21 confirmed patients with the virus in Glasgow, three in Tayside and four in Fife.
A total of 3315 tests have been conducted in Scotland since the start of the outbreak, meaning there had been 3329 negative tests.
Edinburgh Airport have said that they are facing three months of close to zero demand due to COVID-19, with jobs at risk as a result.
Several Edinburgh schools have cancelled their upcoming overseas trips after Nicola Sturgeon announced that the UK had moved to a 'delay' phase in dealing with the outbreak, and that foreign school trips should not go ahead.
The Scottish Government also banned mass gatherings of over 500 people that would have an impact on emergency services.
Today, the SPFL suspended all upcoming fixtures, with games 'in limbo'.
There are fears that that will have a knock on effect on the Edinburgh tourism industry as a result. One Edinburgh tour guide broke down and cried on BBC Breakfast this morning: due to people cancelling trips she can no longer afford to pay for her daughter's birthday.
