Three cases of Brazilian variant of Covid-19 identified in Scotland

Three cases of a Covid-19 variant, which originated in Brazil, have been identified in the north-east of Scotland.

Three people returned to the region from the South American country, via Paris and London, where they entered self-isolation and subsequently tested positive for coronavirus.

The tests were completed in early February and passed to the UK’s advanced sequencing capabilities programme which detected this new variant.

Health officials are now contacting other passengers on the London to Aberdeen flight used by the positive cases. These new cases are not connected to three cases also identified in England.

The Scottish Government says that health protection teams, including local clinicians, have assessed each case and their contacts, and are arranging protective measures for this small number of potentially exposed individuals. 

People who could have been infected by these first line contacts are also being isolated and tested.

The government says clinical and trial data continues to be assessed to examine how this new variant may respond to current Covid-19 vaccines.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: "The identification of this new variant is a concern but we are taking every possible precaution. We have identified these cases thanks to our use of advanced sequencing capabilities which means we are finding more variants and mutations than many other countries and are therefore able to take action quickly.

"This new variant demonstrates how serious Covid is and reinforces the need to minimise the spread of the virus. We would encourage everyone across the country to adhere to the necessary public health restrictions by staying at home except for essential purposes as this is the single best way of staying safe and stopping the spread of this virus. It is now also illegal for anyone to travel to or from Scotland unless it is for an essential reason.

"The Covid vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission, and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow.

"These three strands - following expert advice and guidance to suppress the virus, using our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and rolling out vaccination as fast as supplies allow - are the three critical actions that will see us move, step by step, to protect the public, save lives and a brighter year ahead."