Coronavirus in Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon ‘would welcome’ rumoured payments to self-isolators

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she “would welcome” the expansion of funding from the UK Government for those Scots who are forced to self-isolate with coronavirus.

Her comments come after figures from SAGE suggested that financial pressure means around 70 per cent of people with Covid symptoms are not staying at home.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s daily briefing, the First Minister said she takes the issue of reviewing support on an ongoing basis "very seriously".

She said she had heard claims that the UK government was considering providing £500 for everyone who is told to self-isolate, but admitted she did not know whether the claims are true.

Later this afternoon, however, the UK Government addressed the rumoured funding, insisting that there are “no plans to introduce an extra £500 payment” for those who test positive for the virus.

Today, Ms Sturgeon announced a £500,000 funding boost to Scottish health boards and health and social care partnerships to implement requests from staff.

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