Orkney records 42 COVID cases
Orkney has recorded 42 COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, according to data published by the Scottish Government.
This brings the county’s case total since the pandemic began to 1,572.
If you require a PCR test, you can simply drive to the COVID Testing Centre in Kirkwall. No appointment needed. If necessary (i.e., you don’t/can’t drive), you can phone 0300 303 9545 for further assistance.
Coming into force at midnight yesterday, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced three changes to self-isolation and testing rules:
- People who have no fever and record two negative lateral flow tests can end isolation after seven days. The tests must be no earlier than day six after testing positive and another at least 24 hours after that.
- The requirement for household contacts of positive cases to isolate will end and be replaced by the requirement to take a lateral flow test every day for seven days — but only as long as they are fully vaccinated with three doses. Any close contacts who are over 18 years and four months and not fully vaccinated should isolate for ten days and get a PCR test.
- If you return a positive lateral flow test and you do not have symptoms, you will no longer be required to take a PCR test. Instead, you should isolate and report your result to allow test and protect to begin contact tracing. If you return a positive lateral flow test and have symptoms of COVID, the advice remains to get a PCR test.