Young folk urged to get vaccinated
NHS Shetland is urging anyone aged 18 or over to get a Covid-19 vaccination.
In a social media post on Monday, the health board said that “while having the vaccine doesn’t eliminate the risk of getting coronavirus, by both you and your loved ones having it, it does reduce the impact of the virus”.
It also said there is no evidence that the vaccine will affect fertility.
Nationally there have been some concerns over the uptake of vaccines – which are currently only available to people aged 18 plus or 16 and over if they have an underlying health condition – among younger people.
Latest figures show that in Shetland 60.6 per cent of people aged 18 to 29 have had both doses.
When it comes to first doses, that figure stands at 83.5 per cent.
This is far greater than the Scottish average, which is just 20.4 per cent for two doses and 69.4 per cent for first doses.
Shetland, meanwhile, registered nine new Covid cases over the weekend – but none today (Monday).
In the period of 12 to 17 July a total of 727 Covid tests were taken in Shetland, returning 48 positive results.
Case numbers have risen in Shetland over recent weeks as more people travel back and forth to the mainland.
A large spike in cases in Scotland is now on a downward trend, with 1,464 positive tests reported today.
This is down from nearly 4,000 at the end of June.
Today is so-called ‘freedom day’ in England as people are generally no longer required to wear masks or socially distance.
However, the Scottish Government is reminding the public that Scotland is going at a more cautious pace – with the main restrictions due to be removed on 9 August.
Deputy first minster John Swinney recently said that rules on face coverings could remain in place in Scotland until the end of the year.
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