FIVE positive coronavirus cases have been confirmed across Orkney as the head of the local health board warned the virus is “spreading rapidly” on the islands.
The cluster is linked to a fishing vessel with an investigation now under way alongside contact tracing across NHS Highland, NHS Grampian and NHS Orkney.
Earlier on Thursday, NHS Orkney chief executive Michael Dickson said a number of people had developed symptoms and then travelled to their homes across Orkney and to mainland Scotland.
He said the cluster involves a minimum of nine people, some of whom have tested positive, with work ongoing to trace contacts.
Louise Wilson, NHS Orkney director of public health, said: “Following their identification, the individuals have been asked to self-isolate and we are tracing all of their contacts, who will also be asked to self-isolate as a precaution.
“All of the positive cases have mild symptoms.
“To respect and maintain patient confidentiality we will not be releasing any further details at this time.
“A further update will be provided following the next incident management team (IMT).
“We are taking all necessary steps to contain this outbreak but it is vital people follow the FACTS guidance to limit the spread of the virus.”
Dickson previously told BBC Radio Orkney the latest cases involve a group of people who worked together with early signs indicating a possible link to Aberdeen.
At the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus briefing earlier on Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon said there were three new cases in NHS Orkney in the past 24 hours with an incident management team due to meet later that day.
NHS Orkney last reported a positive case on June 15, when there had been a total of nine cases since the start of the pandemic.
However on Saturday the health board said Orkney testers had picked up a positive case registered to a mainland address.
The First Minister said: “While Orkney had a number of cases at the beginning of the pandemic, it has had very few since, so I would urge everyone on the islands to guard against complacency.
“If you have what might be symptoms of coronavirus please isolate immediately and make immediate arrangements to be tested.”
Orkney MSP Liam McArthur also said: “This spike in new cases is deeply worrying.
“It is also a timely reminder that this virus remains a real threat and that we all have a responsibility to act with the utmost care to keep ourselves and our community safe.
“I will also be speaking to the Health Secretary later today to establish what further action is being considered to contain this outbreak and minimise the risk to the public.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel