Confirmed coronavirus cases in Scotland rise to 27

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Scotland has increased to 27.

The Scottish Government’s daily update reveals four new cases since Monday, increasing the total from 23 to 27, with 2234 tests on Scots carried out.

Meanwhile, a sixth coronavirus patient in the UK died on Monday night.

The person was in their eighties and had underlying health conditions, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said.

Across the UK, 373 people have contracted the virus – an increase of 54 in the last 24 hours.

Most health board areas in Scotland have now seen cases of Covid-19, although there still have not been any confirmed in Orkney, the Western Isles, Dumfries and Galloway or the Borders.

The Lothian region has had the highest number, with seven confirmed coronavirus cases, while there have been six in the Grampian area and three each in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Lanarkshire.

There have been two cases apiece in Fife, Forth Valley and Shetland, one in Tayside and one in Ayrshire and Arran.

Addressing MSPs on Tuesday, health secretary Jeane Freeman said 19 of Scotland’s 27 coronavirus patients travelled from affected areas, while the remaining eight had contact with other cases.

She stressed there has still not been any evidence of “community transmission” of the virus – where it spreads to people who have not travelled from hotspots or contacted known cases.

Freeman also announced more than £3m is being spent on a “rapid scaling up” of NHS facilities for video consultations in the wake of the outbreak.

The Scottish Government is putting the money into the NHS Near Me system, which is currently used for hospital outpatient appointments with consultants.

But the increase in cases of Covid-19 means it could also be used for GP appointments, with Freeman saying this will help to reduce face-to-face contact.

She told MSPs such a move will be necessary “should there be significant increases in the need for self-isolation”.

As well as scaling up the support for video consultations, she revealed the Scottish Government is also considering how trainee doctors and nurses could be drafted in to help the NHS effort.

England’s deputy chief medical officer has said the start of the UK peak of the coronavirus epidemic is expected within the next fortnight, with all the UK home nations continuing to coordinate a “balanced” response.

Some workers at oil firm Shell in Aberdeen have been sent home after a member of staff was found to have contracted the virus.

It follows the postponement of a Scotland women’s rugby international at the weekend after a player tested positive for Covid-19.