Physical distancing to remain for health care settings

Physical distancing is to remain in place for health care settings across Scotland – despite most Covid restrictions being lifted across the country on Monday.

On Saturday, the Scottish Government confirmed that hospitals, GP surgeries and dentists will be among the locations which will continue to observe the current two metre distancing,

The measure will be reviewed as the NHS remobilises safely from the pandemic, the Government has indicated.

Health secretary Humza Yousaf said that a plan for the safe recovery of the NHS will be published in the “coming weeks”.

“The safety of patients and healthcare staff is paramount,” said Yousaf.

“As we move beyond level 0, we must remember that the virus has not gone away and safeguards like distancing may be needed in some settings as we learn to live with COVID-19.

“Physical distancing in our health system will remain for now as we move safely out of lockdown.

“We will keep the situation under review and will publish a plan for the safe recovery of our NHS in the coming weeks.”

Deputy chief nursing officer Anne Armstrong said: “Hospitals and other health care settings have developed new ways of working to meet the challenges of the pandemic, but there is still a risk of hospitalised cases and winter threats

“Physical distancing will help protect staff and patients as part of the ongoing management of confirmed or suspected COVID cases.”