AG百家乐在线官网

Coronavirus: Scots warned after car shares are linked to 1,000 new COVID-19 infections in the space of a week

Nicola Sturgeon says people from different households should only share a private vehicle if it is "essential".

Aubrey Allegretti

Political reporter

Wednesday 28 October 2020 23:23, UK

Portrait shot of mid adult Malaysian woman driving a car with a passenger behind. Both of the Malaysian woman are wearing protective face mask. The driver wearing a sunglasses and a cap. The passenger is a business woman who's busy with her smartphone.
Image: Car sharing has been urged against since the pandemic began
Why you can trust Sky News

Scots are being warned to avoid car sharing after it was linked to 1,000 new coronavirus cases over a seven-day period.

Nicola Sturgeon said people from different households should only share a private vehicle if it is "essential".

At her daily news conference in Edinburgh, Scotland's first minister added: "According to our most recent figures, more than 1,000 people who tested positive for COVID in the previous week reported sharing a car.

Close-up on a man disinfecting the dashboard of his car during the COVID-19 pandemic
Image: People were urged to clean surfaces people normally touch

"Now that doesn't mean that's where they all got the virus, we've gone through this before.

"People give this information to Test and Protect, but it is possible that some of these people got the virus from somebody they were sharing a car with."

It comes after the NHS trust in the Western Isles said it had "become aware" car shares were a transmission factor.

The advice against car sharing has applied throughout the pandemic, which gives specific guidance on how people can protect themselves from catching COVID-19.

Image: Nicola Sturgeon should people should only car share if it was 'essential'

People should:

  • Keep to small groups of people, up to six at any one time
  • Keep their distance and take care entering and exiting the vehicle
  • Sit as far apart as possible in the vehicle
  • Maintain good ventilation by keeping the car windows open
  • Wear a face covering, unless they are exempt
  • Clean their hands before and after the journey
  • Clean the door handles and other areas that people touch
  • Try and share with the same people each time, if multiple journeys are needed

Related Topics