Coronavirus: First death in Scotland brings UK total to 11

UK records another big jump in positive tests – to nearly 800

Scotland has had its first coronavirus death, the 11th in the UK, as the pandemic prompted football chiefs to postpone matches.

The patient, who was being treated by NHS Lothian, was an older person who already had other medical conditions, according to the nation’s chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood.

The number of infections in Scotland has risen to 85, as the UK overall recorded another big jump in positive tests – to 798 at 9am on Friday, up by more than 200 in 24 hours.

However, the number of tests carried out has fallen this week, and some people with symptoms have reported being unable to get tests because the NHS 111 phone lines are jammed.

Experts have defended the official response to the virus amid criticism from former health secretary Jeremy Hunt and others.

Read more

The government has decided not to ban large gatherings or close schools.

But scores of major sporting and cultural events were cancelled or suspended, anyway, along with May’s local elections.

The The Scottish Professional Football League announced the postponement of all fixtures; the Wales v Scotland Six Nations rugby game in Cardiff on Saturday was postponed, and Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Dundee in May was cancelled.

The UK’s chief scientific adviser said it was hoped the government’s approach would create a “herd immunity” to the disease – which would mean 60 per cent of the population contracting the virus

Sir Patrick Vallance said some of the social distancing measures put in place, including self-isolating for seven days if symptoms develop, are “actually quite extreme”.

Edinburgh Airport has warned it could have no passengers for three months, which could mean “extremely tough decisions” would have to be taken.

There are around 7,000 workers on site, with around 750 employed by the airport.

The Foreign Office advised against all but essential travel to the Spanish regions of Madrid, La Rioja and the municipalities of La Bastida, Vitoria and Miranda de Ebro.

France became one of the latest European countries to close all schools, universities and nurseries, while in the US, all major sport was suspended.

On Thursday, Ireland announced the closure of all schools and childcare facilities and other public spaces such as museums, while Scotland banned gatherings of more than 500 people.</a></u></p>

This year’s London Marathon, due to take place on 26 April, was postponed until October.

Additional reporting by agencies