Coronavirus: We need to keep calm and carry on (and wash our hands) – Angus Robertson

The news that coronavirus has arrived in Scotland was only a matter of time but no less shocking.

Everyone will be wishing the patient in Tayside well and hope for their speedy recovery. With Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer confirming that the patient is clinically well and receiving hospital care, we have to hope for a positive outcome. Dr Catherine Calderwood says that NHS Scotland is well prepared for the outbreak and she doesn’t anticipate any problems with capacity. She has said: “We would expect at least 80 per cent of people have a very mild illness that they will recover quickly from. It’s a very small number of people who would need hospitalisation.”

The news will, of course, cause people concern, but it is worth bearing in mind that there have now been about 700 negative test results in Scotland since the virus first surfaced in China. It is good to see political leaders and health officials working together to put public safety first.

Most of us are now paying much closer attention to the public health messages – that we need to follow simple procedures, including the regular washing of hands, catching coughs and sneezes in disposable tissues then disposing of the tissues and washing hands. Avoiding the touching of eyes, nose and mouth, and close contact with people who are unwell, is also advised.

There is lots of helpful advice online from the World Health Organisation and from the Scottish Government if you need more. Keeping calm and follow the health advice is definitely the key response.