Douglas Ross tests negative for COVID

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has tested negative for COVID, the party has revealed. 

The MSP has been self-isolating in an Edinburgh hotel since Wednesday after attending an event with a Scotland Office minister who later tested positive for the virus. 

The Tories have said that as a precaution, Ross will continue self-isolating until next Thursday. 

He had been in Peterhead with David Duguid on Monday, and learned of his colleague’s subsequent diagnosis on Wednesday morning. 

He was alerted by text message at around 8.40am, the Tories said, by which time he was already in the Scottish Parliament. Holyrood authorities were informed immediately. 

His self-isolation meant he was forced to take part in First Minister’s Questions via video link from his hotel room. 

Four other Tory MSPs and five members of party staff who also took COVID tests as a precaution have all been cleared. 

A spokesman said: “Douglas Ross has tested negative for COVID, as have all Scottish Conservative MSPs and staff who took a test as a precaution.
 
“Douglas will continue to voluntarily self-isolate as a precaution until Thursday, 10 June."