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Scientists sequencing virus samples from the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Scotland (and through the first wave) have found evidence of community transmission, driven by multiple introductions through international travel, as early as February 2020.

In new research, led by the University of Glasgow and published in Nature Microbiology, researchers have been able to confirm that SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, had multiple introductions to Scotland in early 2020, mainly from European countries such as Italy and Spain.

By looking at full genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2, the researchers found that the virus was introduced hundreds times during the first four weeks of the outbreak in Scotland, mainly from other European countries. The confirmed travel-associated introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into Scotland predated both UK travel restrictions and extensive restrictions in other European countries. Despite travel restrictions to mainland China coming into place at the end of January, the study shows that cases directly linked to Southeast Asia were rare in Scotland.

COVID-19 was first diagnosed in Scotland on the 1st of March. During the first month of the outbreak, 2641 cases of COVID-19 led to 1832 hospital 46 admissions, 207 intensive care admissions and 126 deaths. However as mass testing had not yet been introduced in the early stages of the outbreak, the true number of overall cases is certainly higher.