Coronavirus / Single death in isles attributed to coronavirus
NEWLY released statistics from the National Records of Scotland show there has been one death attributed to coronavirus in Shetland up to 5 April.
The death was recorded in the week beginning 30 March. Only Orkney and the Western Isles health board areas have so far had no deaths attributed to coronavirus.
It is believed that the death of at least one further person in Shetland can be associated to coronavirus, with one close relative urging people to stick to the rules outlined by health authorities to “avoid the pain we are feeling just now.”
The NRS has started releasing numbers of deaths from coronavirus including those contained on death certificates that mention coronavirus.
By 5 April, 354 deaths had been registered in Scotland where Covid-19 was mentioned in the death certificate.
Between 30 March and 5 April, 282 deaths relating to Covid-19 were registered. There were 62 in the previous week, 23 to 29 March, and 10 in the week before, 16 to 22 March.
Earlier figures released by the government as part of its daily coronavirus update have only been for people who tested positive for the virus and subsequently died.
As of yesterday the total deaths based on tested patients was 296.
Asked about deaths from Covid-19 on Tuesday, NHS Shetland chief executive Michael Dickson said: “At the current time deaths due to Covid-19 are reported at a national level and are not broken down to a health board level.
“Unless this reporting arrangement changes, and to maintain patient confidentiality, we will not be commenting on this issue.”
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said a short while ago: “As a more accurate picture of the number of deaths in the community from Covid-19 has finally been provided, it is absolutely vital that everything is done to protect residents of our care facilities, and those receiving care in the community, from this horrific and indiscriminate virus.
“That means clear and consistent guidance must be available, as well as the PPE and other equipment needed to protect both those being cared for and the people who care for them.
“And it also means better access to testing which, at the moment, appears to be a postcode lottery across Scotland, with each NHS board given the flexibility to decide who and when it tests.
“Those who work in our care sector are, like our NHS staff, at the very front line of efforts to protect the most vulnerable in our society and already do so in the most challenging of circumstances.”
The elderly are being disproportionately hit by the virus with people aged 75 or older accounting for 60 per cent of deaths.
The official advice in order to protect yourself and others is to stay at home; only go outside for essential food, health and work reasons; stay two metres (six feet) away from other people; wash your hands regularly and wash your hands thoroughly as soon as you get home.
The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are a new continuous cough and/or a fever or high temperature (37.8C or greater).
Health advice can be found on: https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus
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