Coronavirus / Latest Covid-19 cases prove the virus is in the community, NHS says
A NUMBER of local people have been asked to self-isolate as NHS Shetland deals with two new confirmed cases of Covid-19.
However, as one the cases involves a person who has been to Shetland as a visitor, the total number of confirmed cases within the local health board area rises by just one to 63.
Meanwhile, the total daily number of new cases across Scotland continue to rise rapidly with 1,429 new cases confirmed over the last 24 hours. Fifteen people have died since yesterday and the number of people in hospital has risen to 570.
NHS Shetland said the latest case added to the isles’ tally was a local resident, with the infection possibly associated with travel to the UK mainland.
NHS Shetland honorary consultant in public health medicine Shantini Paranjothy said these latest cases proved that the virus was present in Shetland.
“The situation on the mainland is serious and, while we are not yet facing the same volume of cases, we continue to be at risk in Shetland,” she said.
“The virus is highly contagious and avoiding crowded places and close contact with other people are the safest ways to avoid infection.”
Anyone with symptoms must request a test. To do this visit the NHS Shetland website and fill in the test request form.
Professor Paranjothy added that the community should take care and follow the FACTS guidelines.
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