Nicola Sturgeon outlines latest coronavirus strategy as delay phase begins

Nicola Sturgeon has given an update on the coronavirus outbreak, saying the UK has now moved into the delay phase.

Speaking this afternoon following a Cobra meeting, the First Minister said that the objective now is to slow down the spread of coronavirus and reduce numbers infected at the peak.

From Friday, anyone with symptoms indicative of coronavirus – including fever and a persistent cough – should self-isolate for seven days.

Ms Sturgeon said that unless symptoms do not clear up within a few days, or anyone infected is deteriorating, they do not need to call their GP or NHS24.

There will not be routine tests on everyone who has coronavirus symptoms, but surveillance will continue, she added.

Ms Sturgeon said: “The decision has been taken that we have now moved from a contain phase into the delay phase where the objective is to seek to slow down the spread of the virus, to reduce the numbers who will be infected at the peak, the number infected at any one time.”

As revealed earlier in a speech before First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon said that mass gatherings of more than 500 people would be cancelled from Monday onwards.

Ms Sturgeon confirmed the Scottish Government has taken the decision to advise gatherings of more than 500 people be cancelled from the start of next week.

She said a clear definition will be provided, but the advice relates to gatherings that potentially have an impact on emergency services.

She said that, while the scientific evidence points to this not having much effect on the spread of the virus, it was a measure the Scottish Government wants to take to protect emergency service staff.

She told a press conference at the Scottish Government headquarters in Edinburgh she would not consider church services in that way, but football or rugby matches – due to their size and need for dedicated ambulance services – should be reconsidered.

She added that policing shifts will already have been allocated so cancelling events like the Old Firm match, which is scheduled for Sunday, would have little impact.

She said: “Progressively, the next few weeks are going to have services under acute pressure. I feel an obligation to remove as many unnecessary burdens as I can.”

On the subject of school closures, Ms Sturgeon said that it was not the advice now that they should close, but it is a position that will constantly be under review.

She said that any potential future closures would “not be for a week or two weeks”, but “potentially until the summer period”.

School trips abroad should not go ahead, she added.