Scotland not planning to isolate over-70s, Health Secretary says

Scotland is not planning on isolating over-70s over coronavirus fears, the country’s Health Secretary has said, amid criticism of the UK Government’s communication and strategy.

The UK’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that elderly people are likely to be asked to self-isolate for up to four months – news that emerged from anonymous briefings.

However, Jeane Freeman, his counterpart in Scotland, said the Scottish Government were not planning on isolating the elderly but would instead be “asking them to reduce social contact”.

Mr Hancock described the plans for over-70s to be forced to stay at home as a “very big ask”, but said it is a measure for their own “self-protection”.

“The other group is people who have underlying health conditions whose immune system is suppressed.

“It’s not isolation, it’s asking them to reduce social contact.

“We don’t want people who are elderly to be stuck in their homes alone not contacting anyone, with their families not able to be in touch with them and to help them.

“What were saying to them is, reduce your contact.”

On Twitter, Scotland’s national clinical director Jason Leitch addressed the apparent confusion and said there is no plan to ask over-70s to completely socially isolate.

He added: “We are working on guidance for the over-70s to be asked to reduce social contact for their safety.

“So no bingo, no pubs… but family visits and neighbours etc.”

Quoting Mr Leitch’s tweet, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “These are decisions for The Scottish Government but we are seeking to take them on a consistent UK four-nations basis.

“We will set out the detail of exactly what we are asking people to do, and when, in an open and orderly way.”

In an earlier Twitter post, the first minister wrote: “Giving clear and consistent information to public at the right time on #coronavirus is vital. Governments’ media strategies must reflect the importance of that.

“This is not a run-of-the-mill political issue.

“The Scottish Government will set out advice to the public in an orderly manner.”

The news of the potential isolation of elderly people was briefed anonymously to journalists overnight and sparked criticism over how the UK Government was communicating policies and advice.

Asked about how the news emerged, Ms Freeman said: “It’s not how we would do it,” adding: “Governments should be coming and explaining these things really clearly.

“Overnight briefing, background briefing, unattributed sources is not the way to ensure that the public are understanding what we are trying to do and our working with us to do that.”

“I tell the parliament what is happening so all our MSPs know, then we have clinical voices – because they are the important voices; Catherine Calderwood (chief medical officer) Jason Leitch and others – on programmes around the country answering questions and explaining what we’re doing.”

On Sunday morning, the Scottish Government updated its policy on testing people showing symptoms of coronavirus, effectively scaling it back to NHS staff and those admitted to hospital.

Explaining the new measures, Ms Freeman said: “If you’ve got any of the symptoms of Covid-19 – that’s the dry persistent cough or a fever – stay at home for seven days.

“You don’t need to go to your GP, you don’t need to phone 111. Stay at home. You won’t be tested.

“If your condition worsens, then you should go to your GP.”

Scotland has 153 confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to the latest figures.

The number of people to have tested positive rose from 121 on Saturday, although the daily rise is slightly less sharp than the increase of 36 cases between Friday and Saturday.

The Scottish Government said 4,240 tests have been carried out, with one death related to the virus.

In a day of events, a Catholic church in Coatbridge closed after a young parishioner, who had attended a “large-scale Mass” in the parish in recent days, tested positive for coronavirus.

Fr Michael Kane, parish priest of St Augustine’s Church in the town, said the church community would be praying for the parishioner, who “is not seriously unwell”.

Edinburgh Blackhall Mosque has also closed to allow it to be disinfected. A statement on the mosque’s Facebook page said: “We have had our 1st case of coronavirus. The member has been asked by doctors to self isolate at home.”

Meanwhile, the University of Strathclyde became the latest university to suspend classes and move to online teaching, and Isobel Mair School and Nursery in Newton Mearns and Murroes Primary School in Angus have been closed after the emergence of coronavirus cases linked to their communities.