Coronavirus updates: Thursday 19 March

News:

1. Education Secretary John Swinney announced school exams will not be taking place this year.

The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday schools and nurseries across Scotland will close from the end of this week, potentially not opening again before the summer holidays.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority will put in place a certification model using coursework, teacher assessment of estimated grades and prior attainment

2. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is suspending visiting privileges to its hospital wards in an effort to protect patients from coronavirus.

Visiting will still be permitted in specific circumstances, such as to visit patients receiving end-of-life care or partners present during childbirth.

3. A free helpline 'Viral Kindness Scotland' has launched to help the vulnerable access food and tackle loneliness

The community project called 'Viral Kindness Scotland' involves around 500 convenience stores and will help with shopping deliveries and also help to tackle loneliness.

Postcards will also be distributed to stores for consumers and shopkeepers to identify vulnerable people in their local communities, which can be returned to the charity by freepost.

Vulnerable individuals in Scotland can contact the free helpline on 0800 054 2282 from 3pm on Thursday 19th March or can also go on the website if they need help with food deliveries.

4. Boris Johnson announces the first patient in UK has been put into a randomised trial for drugs that may treat coronavirus.

New measures announced this week include:

1. The UK Government published its plans for a new coronavirus Bill soon to be introduced at Westminster.

The legislation will focus on making it easier for retired health and social care staff to return to work, reducing the number of administrative tasks needed to be completed by frontline staff and bringing in stricter powers to limit social contacts.

The Bill will also enshrine in law Chancellor Rishi Sunak's promise that people will be able to claim statutory sick pay from the first day they are off work, as well as measures aimed at helping the death management system deal with a potential increase in demand.

2. The government is advising against all non-essential travel outside of the UK for the next 30 days.

3. Stop all non-essential social contact and stop going to places with a high concentration of people such as pubs, clubs and theatres.

4. Avoid using public transport as much as possible.

5. Avoiding all social contact is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with some health conditions.

6. Work from home, if you can.

7. Schools are closing from Friday afternoon, and might not open again before summer.

8. Anyone living in a household with somebody who has either a persistent cough or fever must now also isolate themselves for 14 days.

9. Very vulnerable people with compromised immune systems - estimated to be around 200,000 in Scotland - will be given tailored advice on self-isolation that could last a "period of weeks or months".

Major Disruptions:

1. Loganair is reducing flights by half next month as it brings in an emergency timetable due to the impact of coronavirus.

The regional airline said forward bookings have fallen by around 75% compared to their usual levels in the last four days.

It will maintain "lifeline services'' to the islands, but their frequency will be reduced.

2. The Catholic Church in Scotland has suspended all public masses due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A statement from the country's bishops said that priests will continue to celebrate Mass in private with "the particular intention of praying for those suffering from Covid-19 and those who care for them''.

Major event / venue closures:

TRNSMT organisers say the festival is still going ahead this summer.

The Eurovision Song contest has been cancelled.

Glastonbury 2020 has been cancelled, but ticket-holders will be guaranteed the opportunity to buy a ticket for Glastonbury 2021.

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq The World’ due to be at the Hydro on 8th May has been postponed until 29th August.

‘Singing I’m No A Billy He’s A Tim 2’ at the Armadillo has been rescheduled for 3rd September.

The Who have rescheduled their planned gig at the Hydro for 10th March 2021. Original tickets remain valid.

Ricky Gervais’ “Supernature” dates at the Armadillo are being rescheduled from early April to August.

Disney On Ice at the Hydro from 16-19th April has been cancelled.

David Gray’s gig at the Hydro on 21st March has been postponed.

Rick Astley’s gig at the SEC on 5th April has been postponed until October.

The Planet Earth II Live show at the Hydro on 4th April has been postponed

Ticket sales for Biffy Clyro’s upcoming tour, including the date at the Hydro, have been postponed.

The Glasgow Short Film Festival has been postponed until August.

Reminders / closures:

Glasgow University is cancelling the majority of its exams for first and second year students.

Glasgow City Mission's night shelter is closing after a guest and a member of staff tested positive for COVID-19.

IKEA is closing all stores from Friday 20th March at 6pm.

Insane Championship Wrestling shows at The Garage on 5th and 26th April have been postponed.

Skills Development Scotland offices are closed to all visitors, but online and phone services are still available.

Glasgow Life have closed all museums, concert halls, libraries and Glasgow Club gyms until at least the end of April.

Scotrail has advised all tickets are bought before boarding to avoid unnecessary contact.

Inverclyde Council has cancelled all parents’ evenings and after school clubs.

West College Scotland will suspend all face-to-face teaching by Friday.

Visiting times at NHS Lanarkshire are suspended from 18th March.

The Scottish Cup semi-finals and final have been postponed.

Ayrshire College will suspend face-to-face teaching from 4pm on Wednesday, with a view to recommencing on 20th April.

All SPFL fixtures are postponed for the foreseeable future.

The Euro 2020 play-offs will now provisionally be played in the June International Break. The European Championships themselves won’t be played until summer 2021.

All horse racing in the UK has been suspended from tomorrow until the end of April. That includes the Grand National and Scottish Grand National.

All North & South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture premises will be shut from Wednesday.

All Park Runs across the country have been called off with 'immediate effect'.

Stirling Council’s culture and community venues are closed as of today, including libraries, ticket offices, gig venues and community centres.

Cineworld, Vue and Odeon have closed all of their UK cinemas.

City of Glasgow College has suspended all face to face teaching from today.

There are visitation restrictions from NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. Check their website for more.

Glasgow Uni has ended face to face teaching.

The University of the West of Scotland has ended face to face teaching.

West College Scotland has announced face-to-face teaching will be suspended from Friday afternoon.

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