NHSO unveils expected booster schedule as COVID cases continue climb

NHS Orkney has said is “managing the situation” as the county continues to experience an escalation in COVID-19 cases.

A total of 25 new cases have been attributed to Orkney during the past 24 hours, according to Scottish Government figures.

Amid mounting cases, Orkney has landed the unenviable title of highest infection rate per head of population in Scotland. Over 300 confirmed cases have been recorded here during the past fortnight.

According to NHS Orkbey, these are a mix of extended family household contacts and a small number of individuals with a link to travel. The health authority says it is seeing all ages affected and is not expecting case numbers to decline in the near future.

Public health staff have emphasised that the best way to avoid becoming a contact is remaining two metres away from those outwith your household.  Face mask wearing and regular hand washing must continue and be forefront of folk’s minds.

If you are meeting up indoors with anyone outwith your household, you are asked to ensure good ventilation is in place at all times by opening windows and doors. Twice-weekly lateral flow tests are encouraged for all those aged 12 and over who are not showing any signs of COVID. If you have a positive lateral flow, you and your household must isolate immediately, and you must book a PCR test

The COVID Assessment Centre in Kirkwall is currently providing a seven-days-a-week service, and NHS Orkney says it’s staff are working round the clock to ensure folk get their appointments.

If you have symptoms of Covid i.e., a new or continuous cough, a high temperature or loss of taste or smell, you and your household must isolate immediately, and you must book a PCR test. If you have any symptoms at all, no matter how minor please do not undertake a lateral flow test but instead isolate and book a PCR test.

Dr Louise Wilson, Orkney’s director of public health said: “We are continuing to see high case numbers in Orkney and expect this will continue for some time.

“We appreciate the community following the guidance and understand high numbers are worrying but we are managing the situation.

“However, we must keep sticking to the measures in place and be mindful of what we are planning and how to minimise risks.

“For example, if meeting up indoors with those outwith your household try to remain two metres apart with windows open, this will minimise the risk of becoming a close contact. If you are contacted by the contact tracing team please help us by providing accurate information on your contacts.”

Orkney’s COVID-19 vaccination programme is ongoing, and we are working hard to deliver the booster programme. According to NHS Orkney, this is a complex process, as it works to deliver boosters in tandem with flu vaccinations.

NHS Orkney has shared the estimated timeframes, this week, for the first few cohorts of its booster programme.

These nine Priority Groups, and their cohort descriptions, are listed below. Included are the expected weeks that most patients within these cohorts will be invited.

Patients cannot be given a Booster any earlier than 24 weeks after completion of their primary vaccination programme. NHS Orkney will be inviting patients as near to the 24-week mark as it can. However, it is possible that it will be later than 24 weeks.