NICOLA Sturgeon has urged Scots to volunteer and help NHS Scotland in the fight against coronavirus.
The new Scotland Cares programme will open tomorrow, with people "who are currently fit and healthy, and perhaps no longer for the time being at work" asked to do their bit. Sturgeon's announcement of a Scottish volunteer programme comes as the NHS in England paused recruitment to their own scheme after 750,000 people responded, far exceeding health bosses expectations.
The First Minister announced the new project at her daily briefing on the coronavirus.
She also revealed that another person had died from the virus, bringing the total number of fatalities up to 41. There are now 1384 confirmed cases across Scotland, up 139 in 24 hours, and 95 people are in intensive care.
Sturgeon said the best way to support the NHS was “for all of us to follow the rules and stay at home as much as possible”.
But, she added, there were “many people who are currently fit and healthy and perhaps no longer for the time being at work or at university, and are looking for other ways to help”.
The First Minister said Scotland Cares would “encourage people to volunteer, that are in a position to do so”.
Those keen to offer their services can go to the readyscotland.org and register as a returning health or social care worker or to “volunteer, more generally to help the NHS or the wider response effort”.
Sturgeon aaded: “We're working with the Red Cross, who will be coordinating community reserve volunteers across the country, the site will also provide information about volunteering opportunities with existing organisations through volunteer Scotland.
“And this means that people who are able to will be able to contribute in a way which makes a real difference within your local community, and it will help people help each other, as we all seek to get this through and get through this together.
She also encouraged Scots to lend a “clean hand” to neighbours and family.
In her briefing the First Minister also announced that the Scottish Parliament will meet for one day this week – in reduced numbers to ensure proper social distancing is in place – to pass emergency legislation emergency legislation that will include provision to ensure that no one can be evicted from their home during the crisis.
That, she said, would be achieved by increasing to six months the minimum period of notice that a landlord must give a tenant before eviction.
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