Coronavirus / Number of local coronavirus cases unchanged as Scottish figure continues to rise
OFFICIAL figures released by the Scottish Government a short while ago show that there were no new confirmed cases of coronavirus in Shetland during the last 24 hours.
There are eleven confirmed cases in Shetland. The overall Scottish number of cases has risen by 32 to 153 from Saturday to Sunday.
A total of 4,240 tests have been carried out across the country. Please see this government webpage for regular updates.
With strenuous efforts implemented to try and delay the spread of the virus to allow the overstretched health service to cope until a vaccine becomes available, public life has slowed down, social events have been cancelled and an increasing number of people are self-isolating.
The Scottish Government said on Sunday morning that surveillance testing for COVID-19 would be expanded to monitor the spread of the virus in the community.
The programme will be extended to GP practices covering up to 1.2 million people across all health boards in Scotland, a government spokesperson said.
It will test people presenting with relevant symptoms, including with flu-like symptoms or general respiratory illness and underlying health conditions. It will also support the continued testing of people admitted to hospital with symptoms.
People following the guidance to stay at home for seven days if they have mild symptoms of a new cough or raised temperature will not be routinely tested – and will continue to be advised to only phone NHS 111 or contact the GP if their condition worsens.
Surveillance testing will provide real-time information on how the virus is spreading in Scotland, which will inform NHS planning and allow resources to be directed where they are needed most.
Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood said: “This new approach to testing will enable us to understand the pattern and spread of coronavirus in the community, to develop a clear assessment of the situation and to predict the peak number of cases, without having to test everyone with possible symptoms.
“Those with mild symptoms do not need to be tested. They should continue to stay at home for seven days and only contact their GP or 111 if their condition worsens.
“Everybody has a role to play in helping contain this outbreak by following the latest health advice and basic hygiene precautions such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.”
This story will be updated following a press briefing with NHS Shetland later this afternoon.
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