The third case of coronavirus has been identified in Fife, the Scottish Government has confirmed.
The news comes as the total number of positive cases across Scotland rose again sharply, with officials confirming at 2pm on Thursday that the number of cases has gone up from 36 to 60.
Two cases were confirmed by NHS Fife on Friday, and the two patients are understood to have been taken for further monitoring and treatment to Edinburgh’s Western General.
Many more cases are expected to be confirmed over the coming days, after NHS Fife announced earlier this week it was expanding capacity for local testing of Covid-19 with the addition of a new ‘drive-through’ testing facility at Cameron Hospital in Windygates.
The facility will supplement the mobile testing team, which will continue to operate across the Kingdom, although NHS Fife has again stressed that members of the public can only attend under certain circumstances.
“We would remind people that only those assessed by a GP over the phone and are given an appointment at the facility should present,” a spokesperson said.
Those presenting without an appointment will not be seen and should not attend.”
Dr Esther Curnock, deputy director of public health, said: “NHS Fife has well-rehearsed procedures in place to deal with the potential of communicable viruses such as coronavirus.
“Over recent weeks we have seen a steady rise in the numbers of people requiring testing for coronavirus and we anticipate a sharper increase over the coming weeks.
“It’s crucial that we can continue to test those meeting the criteria in a timely way and so we are now increasing the testing capacity we have available.
“The vast majority of those tested in recent weeks show little or no symptoms of the virus, and so are suitably able to drive to our testing facility.
“Our mobile testing team will, however, continue to operate in the same manner as it has done previously to test those unable to make their own way to our testing site.”
