GR Direct - Winter Sale 2024
Saturday 9 November 2024
 10.1°C   S Fresh Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

Coronavirus / Latest Covid cases linked to five different travel sources

THE LATEST Covid cases confirmed in Shetland can be linked to five separate ‘travel events’, NHS Shetland confirmed on Monday.

Yesterday (Sunday) the health board urged everybody who wanted to visit the isles to take at least two lateral flow tests (LFT) before travelling north in a bid to reduce the strain on limited local resources.

Interim director of public health Dr Susan Laidlaw said all seven new cases confirmed over the past three days, including the three confirmed today, were travel related.

With three of these being linked, Covid infections have come to light at five different travel events, she said.

Dr Laidlaw added: “They were identified through people having symptoms or doing asymptomatic LFTs or doing an asymptomatic PCR because they were identified as a contact of another case on the UK mainland.”

She said a number of people in the isles were currently self-isolating but was unable to give a figure due to the constantly changing picture.

“For each of the recent travel related cases there have generally been a relatively small number of contacts (averaging about six), which may include some on mainland Scotland and some in Shetland,” she said.

“We may also have people in Shetland who are self-isolating because they are a contact of a case south, but we do not necessarily know about them if they have been contacted traced by another CT team or identified through the proximity app.

“We usually only know about them if they request a PCR test.”

On Sunday, NHS Shetland said that to reduce the risk of unknowingly bringing Covid to the Northern Isles, people are requested to take the following precautions before they travel:

  • Complete a lateral flow device (LFD) test three days before you travel;
  • Repeat this again on the day of travel;
  • Delay your trip and book a PCR test if your LFD test is positive – even if you have no symptoms;
  • Delay your trip, self-isolate and book a PCR test if you have Covid symptoms (new continuous cough or high temperature or loss/ change in sense of taste or smell).

Become a member of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -

  • Remove non-local ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.

 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Have you considered becoming a member of Shetland News?

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please consider paying for membership and get the following features and services: -

  • Remove non-local ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.