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Live updates on the coronavirus in Scotland, the UK and around the world.
Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 12:54 pm
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Last update: Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 1:05 p.m.
- 15 more deaths in Scotland reported Tuesday
- 1,456 new cases of Covid in Scotland
- 824 patients with positive Covid in the hospital, 69 of which are in the ICU
- Additional funds to support free school meals
- Republic of Ireland will be placed in second block
Poorer countries implement test and trace systems better than the UK, says Devi Sridhar
The poorest countries are implementing better test-and-trace systems than the UK, said Devi Sridhar, professor and chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh.
She told the All Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus that she said she did not understand how countries such as Vietnam and Senegal were able to quickly return test results, but “we cannot do that in the UK.”
Professor Sridhar added: “There is something fundamentally wrong here when we need to see who is awarded contracts to deliver what and with what expertise, because what is being spent is public taxpayer money.
“We’re going into another lockdown because that test-and-trace system isn’t working, and it’s not because we aren’t investing enough money.”
“It’s not about lack of money here, countries that are much poorer are doing better.
Devi Sridhar says the growing number of local blockades is pushing the country towards a national blockade in all but name
Devi Sridhar, professor and chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, told the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus that local closures should be used to protect areas with low incidence of Covid-19 cases from those that have peaks.
Movement restrictions must be introduced, accompanied by testing and tracking, he explained.
Professor Sridhar added: “I think the mistake has been that we are now seeing increases across the country, so all that is going to be is putting more and more local restrictions until we basically have a national lockdown, but we are just not calling from that one. “
Nicola Sturgeon: “I will do everything in our power and the Scottish Government will do everything in our power to prevent widespread school closings again. We want to keep schools open as much as possible.”
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Additional funding for schools and local authorities to support school meals
Additional funds will be made available to schools and local authorities to support free school meals.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville announced an increase of more than £ 10 million at the coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh.
The projects will be used to fund free school meals during Christmas, February holidays and Easter, with rebates available to local authorities who provided provision during the October holidays.
Ms. Somerville said, “This significant investment will support some 156,000 children and youth, helping families cover the cost of meals during school holidays.
“It will be up to local authorities to decide how this support is delivered, however, we continue to advocate for a cash-first approach where appropriate, giving families a choice of what food they buy and where they buy it.”
A further £ 28 million will be given to local authorities to deal with “financial insecurity” and municipalities will be able to decide how to spend the increase.
Boris Johnson will hold a press conference in which he is expected to lay out the government’s next steps in relation to coronavirus controls in Greater Manchester, Downing Street said.
Devi Sridhar Says Eat Out to Help Out Scheme Set Hotel Industry Back
The government’s Eat Out to Help Out plan pushed the hotel industry back, said a public health expert.
Devi Sridhar, professor and chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, told the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus that the scheme had given a “boost to the hotel industry in the summer, but now many are being shut down.” .
He added: “It has been a step forward for the industry, five steps back.”
He said the sector was “vital” but also “one of the riskiest scenarios for broadcasting,” and warned against “short-term populist visions that inject money that do not do so in a sustainable way.”
Nicola Sturgeon says: “The test system is working well, but we will continue to highlight and seek to resolve any lags or lags when they occur.”
The Prime Minister will report tomorrow on restrictions on hospitality companies
Scotland’s prime minister will update the country on restrictions on hospitality business on Wednesday.
Nicola Sturgeon, speaking at the coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh on Tuesday, said a decision on the measures, which were put in place to halt an increase in cases and were stricter in the country’s central belt, would be made after a cabinet meeting.
The Prime Minister also urged eligible companies to apply for a new £ 20 million fund to support those affected by the new measures.
She said: “I would encourage all eligible companies to apply.
“By sticking to the new restrictions and closing your business if you are in the central belt, or operating it with restrictions if you are in the rest of the country, you are helping us to address Covid and stop us is spreading very fast and it is very important that let us help you achieve it. “
Nicola Sturgeon says the councils will manage a £ 20 million grant fund and their websites will be open for grant applications for two weeks.
Coronavirus in Scotland: 198 new confirmed cases in Lothians as the country records 15 deaths
Coronavirus in Scotland: 15 new deaths registered as the country confirms more than 1,000 cases
15 deaths from coronavirus and 1,456 positive tests
Scotland has recorded 15 coronavirus deaths and 1,456 positive tests in the last 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon announced.
The Prime Minister told the Scottish government’s coronavirus report that the death toll under this measure, of people who tested positive for the virus for the first time in the previous 28 days, has risen to 2,625.
He said 49,164 people tested positive in Scotland, up from 47,708 on Monday.
The daily rate of positivity of the test is 11.4%, compared to 6.4% the day before.
Of the new cases, 500 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 393 in Lanarkshire, 198 in Lothian and 116 in Ayrshire and Arran.
There are 824 hospitalized people confirmed with the virus, an increase of 70 in 24 hours.
Of these patients, 69 are in intensive care, an increase of eight.
