New Orkney COVID case confirmed

Orkney has recorded a new COVID-19 case during the past 24 hours, NHS Orkney has confirmed. 

This brings the total number of cases attributed to Orkney since the pandemic began to 70.

According to the health authority, the patient in question has no immediate link to the recent cases earlier this month — nor do they have any history of travel.

NHS Orkney’s consultant in public health, Sara Lewis, said individual cases that continued to surface in Orkney remained concerning.  She urged members of the public not to let their guard down.

“While we are in Level Three, which means we have more liberties than the rest of the country, these isolated cases indicate that the risk of COVID spreading in the community remains high,” she said.

Mrs Lewis urged everyone in Orkney to take up the offer of the vaccine when it was made.

She said: “The vaccine you receive will also depend on availability and, for a limited number of people, clinical reasons such as severe allergy.”

Mrs Lewis said there was information about the vaccine on the NHS Inform website and that this should be the first place to look for anyone wanting more information.

NHS Inform is clear that a person cannot catch coronavirus from the vaccine but it is possible to have caught it and not realise you have the symptoms until after your vaccination appointment.

“The COVID vaccine, like all medicines, is tested for safety and effectiveness before we are allowed to use it,” Mrs Lewis added.