Covid Scotland: Lanarkshire hospital bans non-essential visits as cases rise

NHS Lanarkshire has banned all but essential visits to one of its hospitals amid a rise in Covid cases.

From Saturday, essential visiting only will be allowed at University Hospital Wishaw. Visits from one person will continue at University Hospitals Monklands and Hairmyres.

The health board said it had taken the “difficult decision” in light of rising case numbers and continued pressure on services.

It comes after new figures from the Office for National Statistics estimated around one in 19 people in Scotland had Covid in the week to February 26, an increase on the week before.