No new Orkney COVID-19 cases recorded in past 24 hours

Zero new cases of COVID-19 have been attributed to Orkney in the past 24 hours.

This is according to the latest figures released by the Scottish Government.

As it stands, a total of 60 test-positive cases have been recorded for Orkney since the pandemic began.

In the past fortnight, the county has experienced a rising number of cases, with 15 positive tests attributed to Orkney. This includes seven in the West Mainland and three cases among the crew of a local fishing boat, Caspian K.

Meanwhile, a special clinic was mobilised, earlier this week, after a worker at Flotta Oil Terminal tested positive for the virus.

Yesterday, Tuesday, it was confirmed that three new positive COVID-19 cases had been recorded in Orkney. 

All three were known contacts of previous cases recorded in recent weeks and are not linked to the fishing vessel cases.

Director of public health for NHS Orkney Dr Louise Wilson said it remained critical that people continued to follow the FACTS guidance and if in any doubt about whether they had COVID-19 symptoms, to self-isolate and get tested.

She said: “Whilst it is great that the vaccine roll-out has started, everyone is asked to remember that none of the current guidance to prevent the transmission of COVID will change until much more is known about how well the vaccination programme is working at whole population level.

“If you think you have symptoms, it is still really important that you socially isolate yourself as quickly as possible and arrange to get tested as a large proportion of the community currently has no immunity to COVID-19.”

Anyone experiencing COVID symptoms should contact the COVID Assessment Centre for a test. The number to call is 888211.