First Minister welcomes 'real signs of progress' on Covid-19 as ICU admissions down by a third in the last two weeks
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The Scottish Government is finally seeing “some real signs of progress” in relations to Covid-19, according to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The number of cases of people in intensive care has dropped by about one third compared to a fortnight ago while the number of people hospitalised due to the virus has also stabilised and could be on a “downward trend.”
Despite the positive developments Ms Sturgeon reiterated that it was far too soon to ease any lock down measures without risking a deadly second peak of the virus as the number of people dying daily from the virus has yet to fall considerably.
However, it is believed that number would have been the last to subside but it is now expected to fall in the next couple of weeks.
She said: “It is the case that we are now seeing some real signs of progress. The number of people in intensive care has fallen by around a third in the last fortnight from the figure from the figure I would have reported to you two weeks ago today.
“The number of people in hospital which was rising sharply in the first 10 days of this month has now broadly stabilised and the trend there could also be a downward one.
“Our NHS while working incredibly hard and in the most difficult circumstances has not been overwhelmed which just a few weeks ago we really feared that it might be.
“Of course, we're not yet seeing a definite fall in the number of people who are dying each day from the virus however as we've always said because of the way the illness progresses that will be the last daily number that we do start to see decline and we hope to see that in the next couple of weeks.
“But we do have evidence that the actions that all of us all of you watching at home are taking are making a real and a positive difference, your efforts are working so I want again today to thank you.”
The First Minister also called on the nation to mark international workers memorial day to honour particularly frontline workers who have lost their lives to the coronavirus.
She said: “Tomorrow on international workers memorial day, the Scottish government will join a minute's silence at 11am to honour those frontline workers particularly, but not exclusively, those health and care workers who have sadly lost their lives while working to tackle this pandemic.
“I invite all of you at home and those taking part in essential across the country to join us at that time tomorrow – the silence will provide an opportunity to pay tribute to those who have died as a result of their work to serve and care for others.”
