Coronavirus updates: Wednesday 18 March

Updated 12:37pm Wednesday 18 March

News:

1.- The Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop will give a statement to MSPs this afternoon about the economic impact of the virus and actions being taken by the Scottish Government to mitigate the effects.

The UK Government has 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. 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.

3.- 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''.

New measures announced this week include:

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

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

Avoid using public transport as much as possible

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

Work from home, if you can.

Schools will not be closed for the moment.

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

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 events / venues in Glasgow and the West:

‘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:

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.

You can hear all the local and national news updates about coronavirus on the hour by following this link, on FM, via our Radio Clyde app, on your DAB radio, or by saying ‘Play Clyde 1’ on your Smart Speaker.

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