Coronavirus / Covid numbers rise as Delta variant spreads to Shetland
THE NUMBER of new Covid cases in the isles continues to grow as Scotland records 2,836 new cases over the last 24 hours.
In Shetland four new cases were confirmed since yesterday and all were linked to recent travel to the UK mainland, according to NHS Shetland.
Contact tracing has been completed and contacts are isolating and being tested, the health board said on Saturday.
Interim director of public health Dr Susan Laidlaw said more cases were likely as the highly transmissible Delta variant continued to spread across the UK.
She called on the community to continue following the Covid guidelines including wearing face masks where required.
“Our community has been so great in following guidance and sticking to restrictions throughout the pandemic,” she said.
“But we really need folk to keep going with that just now, and to keep supporting the work of the Test and Protect Team to try and prevent the virus spreading, especially whilst we are still completing the vaccination programme.”
More than 91 per cent of islanders aged 40 and older have had both vaccines, a meeting of the health board heard on Friday.
And she stressed the importance of following the same precautions as before.
These are:
- Wearing a face-covering where required;
- Social distancing where required;
- Washing hands;
- Meeting with others outside, if you can;
- Good ventilation if indoors;
- Getting vaccinated;
- Doing regular lateral flow tests if you have no symptoms.
Dr Laidlaw added: “Most importantly, if you develop Covid symptoms, however mild, and especially if you have been south or in contact with others who have been away, please isolate and request a PCR test on the NHS Shetland website.
“If you are symptomatic and choose to do a LFT as well, then regardless of that result you need to get a PCR.”
More Shetland specific Covid information can be found at: https://www.coronavirus.shetland.nhs.scot/
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