Coronavirus / New Covid case confirmed
A LOCAL person who lives in Shetland but recently travelled has tested positive for coronavirus.
The person is self-isolating and NHS Shetland’s contact tracing team has tracked their local contacts.
NHS Shetland chief executive Michael Dickson said travel was the biggest risk for introducing Covid-19 into the community and he urged those coming and going to be careful.
“While travel cannot be avoided, we can all play our part by being responsible and keep ourselves and each other safe,” he said.
“Be cautious, maintain physical distancing and avoid socialising until you are confident you are not infected and have not developed any of the symptoms which include a fever, a loss of taste and/or smell and a new cough.”
The latest positive test takes the total number of cases in the Shetland health board area to 71 – the third lowest in Scotland per head of population after Orkney and the Western Isles.
Last week an elderly man from Shetland died in hospital in Aberdeen having tested positive, bringing the number of Covid-19 deaths in the islands to eight.
NHS Shetland’s consultant in public health Dr Susan Laidlaw said that people coming to Shetland from abroad must abide by the government guidelines regarding self-isolating.
“If you are travelling from a country that is not exempt, then you must self isolate for 14 days as per the government guidance. If you develop symptoms in that time, then you should request a test,” she said.
“If you are planning to travel abroad, please note that the exemption list is subject to change at short notice.”
Government guidance can be found online.
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