ANOTHER two patients have tested positive for COVID-19 in Scotland, increasing the total cases in the country to three.

One case is from the Grampian area and the other is from Ayrshire.

One patient had recently returned to Scotland after travelling to Italy, whereas the other had been in contact with a known positive case outside of Scotland - this was not with the first Scottish case.

Health teams have now begun a contact tracing effort to contact those who may have come into contact with either of the patients. The traces will only impact those who the patients were with for 15 minutes or more within two metres of each other. The effects of COVID-19 are very low for those who may have passed either patient in public.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Our first thoughts must be with the patients diagnosed with coronavirus, I wish them a full and speedy recovery.

“We expect the number of cases to rise and Scotland is well-prepared for a significant outbreak of coronavirus. There is currently no treatment or vaccine so early detection measures will continue to be vital in helping to prevent the spread of the virus.

“People have a vital role to play in helping us contain any outbreak by following the latest health and travel advice, and following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.”

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood added: “Firstly our thoughts are with those who have been diagnosed, and with their families.

“Scotland is well equipped to deal with infections of this kind. We have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues, and have been preparing for this possibility since the beginning of the outbreak.

“We practice and prepare our response to disease outbreaks and follow tried and tested procedures, following the highest safety standards possible for the protection of NHS staff, patients and the public.”

There have been 914 negative cases of COVID-19 reported in Scotland so far.

Advice for those who have recently travelled to affected areas, those with symptoms or people who are concerned, can be found at https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus