NHS Orkney ‘profoundly concerned’ that coronavirus is spreading ‘rapidly’ across the islands

NHS Orkney says it is "profoundly concerned" that Covid-19 is spreading "rapidly" across the islands, as a growing number of people in the community are believed to be infected with the virus.

In a statement released on Wednesday evening, NHS Orkney chief executive, Michael Dickson, said: “NHS Orkney is responding to a significant Covid public health issue and we are profoundly concerned that the virus is spreading rapidly across our community.

“We believe there is a real risk to the people of Orkney, including those on the remote isles, and urge them to take care.

NHS Orkney is concerned that Covid-19 is spreading across the islands.

“Several individuals have developed Covid symptoms and then travelled to their homes across the isles and to mainland Scotland.

“I am asking that anyone in Orkney who shows symptoms of Covid to immediately self-isolate for at least 10 days and seek a test.

“NHS Orkney is taking this matter extremely seriously and working with partners, which include several NHS mainland boards, port authorities, ferry operators, environmental health and the Orkney Island Council.

“Our Public Health tracing team will be working to find as many contacts of these positive cases as possible. If you are contacted, we ask that you self-isolate for 14 days to ensure you do not pass the virus on, should you develop symptoms you must come forward for a test.

“While Orkney’s Covid figures did not change today we are aware of a significant number of symptomatic cases all of whom have been tested. Some of these figures will be attributed to mainland board figures, this happens when a patient’s home address is registered off-island.

The warning comes as NHS Grampian said it was investigating a case of Covid-19 connected to a primary school in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

The health board said it was working to establish close contacts.

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