Coronavirus: One new case confirmed in NHS Lothian area as Scotland total rises to 36 cases

One new coronavirus case has been confirmed in the Lothians today, with the total in Scotland rising from 27 to 36 cases.

NHS Lothian now has a total of eight positive cases following a Scottish Government update at 2pm on Wednesday. The latest figures also reveal the first two positive cases in the Scottish Borders.

A total of 2,280 tests in Scotland have come back negative.

A driver is given a swab test at the drive through coronavirus test centre at the Western General in Edinburgh. Pic: Jane Barlow/PA.

On Wednesday, the total number of UK coronavirus cases rose by 83 cases to 456 – the biggest single-day increase so far.

It comes as Scotland’s health minister Jeane Freeman warned today that NHS Scotland could be forced to operate with up to 30 per cent of its staff off sick throughout the coronavirus outbreak.

The Scottish Government is hoping to use student nurses and medical students who are near completion of their training, to help fill the gap.

Chanchellor Rishi Sunak also delivered his first Budget today and pledged a £30 billion package to help the UK economy respond to coronavirus, and warned the outbreak will bring a “significant impact” in the short term. Among the Budget announcements is that the UK Government will cover sick pay costs for up to 14 days for firms with less than 250 staff.

Coronavirus symptoms

Coronavirus is a respiratory disease which seems to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough. After a week it leads to shortness of breath and some patients require hospital treatment.

In more severe cases, coronavirus can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, multiple organ failure and even death.

Those with weakened immune systems - older people and those with underlying health conditions like asthma or heart disease - are more likely to become severely ill.

The World Health Organisation says the incubation period lasts up to 14 days.

As it's a new illness, it is unclear how exactly coronavirus spreads from person to person, but similar viruses are spread by droplets in coughs and sneezes.

Protecting yourself against coronavirus

The Scottish Government website offers the following advice from NHS Inform to help reduce the risk of getting and spreading respiratory infections by:

- Avoiding direct hand contact with your eyes, nose and mouth.

- Maintaining good hand hygiene - washing hands with soap and water or alcohol sanitiser: After coughing or sneezing; going to toilet; before eating and drinking.

- Avoiding direct contact with people that have respiratory illness and avoid using their personal items such as mobile phones.

- Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing with disposable tissues and disposing of them in the nearest waste bin after use.

Anyone who thinks they may be affected by coronavirus should call the NHS 111 phone service for further advice. They should not go to their GP or to A&E.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, there have been more than 118,000 cases of coronavirus worldwide with over 4,200 deaths.

The outbreak originated in China's Hubei province in December before spreading globally.

Updated figures in Scotland (by health board)

Ayrshire and Arran - 3

Borders – 2

Fife – 2

Forth Valley – 2

Grampian – 6

Greater Glasgow and Clyde – 5

Lanarkshire – 4

Lothian – 8

Shetland – 2

Tayside – 2