UK: Local lockdown in Aberdeen extended until August 26 due to COVID-19 /update 40

Event

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that the local lockdown in Aberdeen, which was first introduced on August 6, has been extended until at least Wednesday, August 26. There have reportedly been 398 cases reported in Grampian since July 26, 226 of which have been associated with the Aberdeen cluster.

Lockdown restrictions were reimposed in Aberdeen due to a local COVID-19 cluster. Under the measures, pubs and restaurants were closed, and people were advised not to travel to the city. Those living in the area have also been restricted from traveling more than five miles (8 km) from their residence for leisure purposes and visiting other households. Traveling for work or education is permitted, but other travel is not advised.

As of Wednesday, August 19, there have been 322,178 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK, with 41,466 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.