Coronavirus news update – 19 March

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Here is a summary of today’s (Thursday) coronavirus news:

• Pupils will this year not have to sit exams in a bid to ensure the health and wellbeing of students and teachers during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2020/03/19/school-exams-called-off-as-government-explores-new-ways-of-pupil-assessment/
• THE Scottish Skipper Expo 2020 that was originally scheduled for 15 and 16 May in Aberdeen has been postponed due to the continuing escalation of the coronavirus. https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2020/03/19/scottish-skipper-expo-2020-postponed/
• Local mental health charity Mind Your Head has launched a new webpage for people feeling anxious or stressed about coronavirus. https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2020/03/19/charity-offers-guidance-for-anyone-struggling-to-cope-mentally-during-virus-outbreak/
• There are hopes that a facility to process coronavirus tests could arrive in Shetland in the next couple of weeks – saving a “huge amount of time” currently involved in transporting swabs south. https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2020/03/19/health-board-rapidly-working-on-getting-coronavirus-test-processing-facility-in-isles/
• Moves are being made across the country to prevent bulk buying at supermarkets, with Tesco now introducing a limit of three items per customer on every product. https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2020/03/19/supermarkets-introduce-buying-restrictions/
• Highlands and Islands MSP John Finne called for an Islands’ task force to ensure that the “unique needs” of islands communities are at the forefront of Scottish Government thinking for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.
• New measures contained in the UK Coronavirus Bill will help enhance Scotland’s response to Covid-19 and strengthen frontline services, according to constitution secretary Michael Russell.
  He said the bill, introduced into the UK Parliament today, followed close co-operation with the devolved administrations and was required because of “extraordinary public health and economic challenges posed by the pandemic”.

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Other useful links:

Shetland Islands Council has created a special page with regularly updated information on how the council’s services are affected by the coronavirus pandemic: https://www.shetland.gov.uk/coronavirus.asp

The English language Faroese news service Local.fo reports that the number of coronavirus cases on the archipelago has risen from 58 and 72 over the last 24 hours.