Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
Alasdair Clark

'Life should not be carrying on as normal' says Sturgeon as FM warns of '1000s' more COVID-19 cases

Nicola Sturgeon has told Scots the "should be at home" if they can be, warning there are still too many expecting to be or expected to go to work.

At a press conference today in Edinburgh, Nicola Sturgeon said said shops not providing essentials such as food or medicine should close.

She also told businesses who could not support people to work at home at close completely.

Flanked by Scotland's chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood and health secretary Jeane Freeman, the first minister said social distancing advice should not be seen as optional.

"Life should not be carrying on as normal right now. If it is you are not doing the right thing" she said again.

14 people infected with the deadly virus have now died in Scotland, and 499 have tested positive.

However Dr Calderwood warned this was very likely an underestimation and thousands more could be infected.

(left to right) Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scotland's Health Secretary Jeane Freeman (PA Wire/PA Images)

Both Dr Calderwood and Nicola Sturgeon urged people and businesses to "do the right thing" by following the government's advice to protect ourselves and the NHS.

Dr Calderwood admitted the measures were "life changing", but said if ignored: "The people that you interact with, if they give you coronavirus you will pass that on to the members of your household.

"You're risking actually infecting the people you love."

She said when people are mixing with others outside of their families they had to be "absolutely sure" that risk was worth taking.

The first minister described the weekend as the "most unusual of her lifetime".

Hair salons, building sites and other non-essential workplaces should also close, she announced.

Health secretary Jeane Freeman also used the press conference to announce new plans designed to support the NHS.

A series of "community hubs" will be introduced, accessed by calling NHS 111.

Freeman explained: “This is a single service across the whole country, delivered through our health boards, covering our remote and rural communities as well so it is national coverage through that 111 phone number, available 24/7.”

She also asked people attempting to get sick notes not to call the NHS 111 number, but to use the NHS website to keep phone lines free.

You can keep updated with all the latest coronavirus updates from around Edinburgh throughout the day using our live blog.

For the latest guidance on coronavirus from Health Protection Scotland, click here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.