Coronavirus / Two care home residents test positive for coronavirus
‘Do not be lulled into a false sense of security’ health board chief warns
THREE more people in Shetland have tested positive for coronavirus – including two residents of a care home.
An unconnected patient at the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick has also tested positive. Their families have been informed and they are being cared for in isolation.
The total number of confirmed cases in Shetland are now 27. Earlier this afternoon the Scottish Government said that 40 people have now died of the virus in Scotland and that the number of known (confirmed) cases had risen to 1,245.
On Saturday (28 March) NHS Shetland was also notified of other care home residents in different facilities who have also begun displaying flu-like symptoms.
Precautionary measures are now in place in these facilities with these residents isolated.
The Walls Health Centre has also been closed to patients after a member of staff developed symptoms and went into self-isolation. Patients can still call the surgery for information and advice.
NHS Shetland chief executive Michael Dickson said “all the people involved are being well looked after and closely monitored, but this is a serious situation”.
The health board has encouraged people to stay away from care homes unless they are there for work or to provide essential services.
“This is to protect the people living in these facilities who are among the most vulnerable in our community,” Dickson said.
“Do not be lulled into a false sense of security,” Dickson said.
“Wash your hands, maintain social distancing and obey the constraints of the lockdown. Our NHS can cope but not with an onslaught of cases.”
The latest advice is as follows:
If you’ve developed a new continuous cough and/or a fever/high temperature in the last seven days, stay at home for seven days from the start of your symptoms even if you think your symptoms are mild.
Do not go to your GP, pharmacy or hospital. Further advice can be found on the NHS Inform website and patients are asked to phone NHS24 on 111 with Covid-19 related queries.
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