The NHS needing more money for tackling coronavirus is \

The NHS needing more money for tackling coronavirus is "inevitable" according to Nicola Sturgeon

The Scottish First Minister reassured the public that most people will have "mild" symptoms

Nicola Sturgeon has said the need for more funding for the NHS is "inevitable" as the UK looks to tackle coronavirus.

The UK Government has reported 206 positive cases of Covid-19, the illness caused by this particular strain of coronavirus, since the outbreak began.

Ms Sturgeon was speaking ahead of the announcement of the UK Budget by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday.

She said: "I think it's pretty much inevitable that we will need additional resources for our National Health Service, although we are right now working within the resources that are available to the health service."

The First Minister also hoped there would be a "relaxation" of the rules of Universal Credit - the UK Government's flagship social security programme - which would ensure users are not sanctioned if they are forced to self-isolate.

She said: "We don't want people who have been advised to self-isolate to minimise the risk of passing the infection on to others to be sanctioned on their benefits.

"There's so much to do; all of the governments across the UK are working very closely and very constructively together - as people have a right to expect."

Published: by Radio NewsHub
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