People urged to stick with coronavirus rules after 'sharp rise' in Fife cases

Health chiefs in Fife are urging locals to stick to coronavirus rules - after a "sharp rise" in Covid-19 cases across the Kingdom.

In the last seven days there have been 149 cases in the region, but 68 of those have come over the last two days.

It comes after 12 new cases were confirmed at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline.

In an effort to ensure the numbers do not get significantly bigger, NHS Fife is launching a 'Stick With It' campaign, asking Fifers to follow the guidelines.

Dona Milne, NHS Fife's director of public health, said: "Covid-19 can potentially be deadly and over recent weeks we have seen a particularly sharp and significant increase in the number of positive cases locally.

"There is clear evidence that both gatherings involving multiple households and the sharing of vehicles have accelerated the spread of the virus in Fife.

"This has resulted in many more people contracting Covid-19, and a small number of people requiring admission to hospital as a result.

"Furthermore, an even greater number of close contacts have been required to self-isolate for 14 days to assist the efforts to contain the virus, causing considerable disruption to households across Fife and preventing many people from being able to attend school or work."

Anyone asked to isolate must stay at home for a full 14 days after contact with a positive case, however, other household members do not need to isolate unless they too are identified as a contact.

In cases involving school pupils, only those children identified as a contact of a positive case need to isolate and any other siblings should continue to attend school as normal.

Ms Milne added: "Covid-19 is often spread by those with little or no symptoms at all.

"If we are to protect the most vulnerable in our communities avoid further restrictions like we have seen in other parts of Scotland, then we must continue to take the virus seriously.

"We need people to stick with the rules around gatherings, avoid sharing vehicles with those outwith our own households, avoid crowded places where possible, and wear face coverings where physical distancing is difficult."

The first minister confirmed today a further seven deaths among coronavirus patients - which is the highest daily total since June 17.

A total of 640 people across the country have also tested positive for the virus - just over 10% of those newly tested.