Two week 'circuit breaker' lockdown could buy time, says Jason Leitch

A two week "circuit-breaker" lockdown could help Scotland reduce COVID-19 infection rates, national clinical director Jason Leitch has said.

Cases have risen following the relaxation of restrictions, with 758 positive cases confirmed on Sunday and estimates suggesting the R number could be up to 1.7.

Official statistics show 191 people were in hospital with confirmed cases, including 23 in intensive care. 

Meanwhile the chair of BMA Scotland’s GP committee has warned the pressure caused by coronavirus could cause the system to “overheat”.

Speaking to the BBC, Leitch said the reintroduction of tightened restriction could give a "short, sharp shock" to the R number.

"Not full lockdown like 23 March - so you might make some choices in there about schools or about further education - but fundamentally a short, sharp shock to the R number," he said.

"You get the R number down, you get the numbers down to a reasonable level and then you can begin to reintroduce some of the things that you've closed.

"So the idea is that a two-week, roughly, circuit-breaker, would buy you 28 days. You don't know that for sure, because it's not an exact science, but it would buy you about a month in the pandemic."