Two wards at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley closed due to Covid amid rise in mutating variant

Two hospital wards have been closed due to an outbreak of Covid amid concerns over the rise in a rapidly mutating variant of the virus.

The wards at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley are shut to new admissions.

It comes after a new variant prompted the winter vaccination programme in Scotland to be brought forward to September 4 from mid-October, for care home residents, the over-75s and those who are clinically vulnerable.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) said variant BA.2.86, also known as Pirola, was identified on August 16 through a PCR test before being found in wastewater in another NHS board area.

BA.2.86 was designated a variant due to a “high number of mutations and the unknown effects this may have on transmissibility and severity”, Public Health Scotland said.

A NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokesperson said: “There are currently two wards at the Royal Alexandra Hospital closed to new admissions, due to Covid-19.

“Incident management teams have met to investigate and appropriate measures have been put in place to minimise any risk of transmission. This includes enhanced cleaning and separating positive Covid-19 patients from others.

“Staff continue to adhere to strict PPE guidelines during this time.