Coronavirus / More than 1,400 Covid tests carried out last month
OVER 1,400 coronavirus tests were carried out in Shetland during October, new figures have revealed.
Nearly 500 of these were done through the local NHS laboratory.
Weekly testing of care home staff amounted for 874 of the tests, while forty six NHS staff were tested during the month.
A total of 168 hospital inpatients were tested in October, as well as 146 people who were due to get an operation.
Figures released by NHS Shetland shows that 75 people had tests through the UK government self-test scheme.
Shetland recorded eight positive cases of coronavirus in October, with 51 people found to be contacts.
Half of the positive cases were linked to travel, and another two were students not in Shetland.
Ninety per cent of contacts were successfully traced, with four people “not contactable due to incorrect contact details ie airline passengers – not on island”.
Currently the total cumulative tally of positive tests recorded since the outbreak earlier this year is 70.
Data from Public Health Scotland shows that Shetland’s total rate of positive tests per 100,000 population is 305.4.
This is the third lowest prevalence in Scotland, with Orkney first (152.7) and the Western Isles (262) above Shetland.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon, meanwhile, is due to give an update on a review of coronavirus restrictions in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon (Tuesday).
It is the first time a review has taken place since the new tiered system of restrictions came into force on 2 November.
Shetland is currently in level one but household visits – which should be allowed in the tier – have temporarily remained off limits due to the national picture.
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