Coronavirus cases reach Shetland
Keegan MurrayTwo people in Shetland have tested positive for coronavirus, the Scottish government has confirmed.
The cases were first brought to light in a social media post on Monday before official confirmation came at 2pm.
The virus was detected following a recent trip to Italy and a third person who came into contact with the pair who recently returned from the high-risk country has now self-isolated, it is understood.
NHS Shetland released a statement on Monday afternoon to say they were working “nationally and locally with partner organisations to actively monitor two positive coronavirus cases”.
The statement added: “Clinicians have already begun contact tracing, the process of gathering details of the places they have visited and the people they have been in contact with since returning to the UK.
“Health protection teams will contact those who are at risk from the current cases – those who are not contacted are not at risk.”
The Shetland Times is also aware of another family who are self-isolating after two people became ill over the weekend.
NHS Shetland interim medical director Brian Chittick said: “While we recognise people may feel anxious about coronavirus, we would like to offer reassurance that we are taking all the necessary steps to try and contain the virus.”
Meanwhile, in a lunchtime announcement, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed five new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the national total to 23.
The Scottish government also issued new advice this morning including workplace advice.
Personal details of patients in Scotland who have tested positive for coronavirus are not released for patient confidentiality reasons.
Sandy McDonald
Shame on you for sharing an unconfirmed social media post. Is it more important to be first these days rather than right?
Anthony Gilfillan
It’s more important to be careful. Knowing is half the battle.
Remain vigilant, be wary.
Coronavirus isn’t a death sentence, a lot of people survive, so don’t panic either. But it doesn’t hurt to know that there’s a potential case of it nearby. And to know what you should look out for.
Also it’s worth noting, that the article mentions that they are confirmed cases…
S M Burns
The social media post was from the person self-isolating because he’d been in contact with the confirmed cases. It was well informed and posted in order to alert others who might have been in contact with him. Not all social media posts are mischievous.
Ian Tinkler
Very silly Sandy. You should practice what you preach. WHOOPS. Try reading the first line “Two people in Shetland have tested positive for coronavirus,”!
Charles L. Gallagher
Perhaps rather than blame and counter blame about who posted what we really should be asking why Johnson and Pritel have not weeks ago instigated routine testing of arriving passengers at airports, seaports and Euro Star? Another ditherer like Trump!!
These unfortunate people should have been identified or self-identified long before they set foot back in Shetland thereby endangering the whole community especially the elderly. Or if I’m being cynical I might be tempted to suggest that Johnson and his Tory advisor Cummings that this virus could offer them a useful of drastically reducing their mounting pension and social care costs in one evil sweep!!!
paulbarlow
because they are around 200 a pop. plus it would limit the ability to test those with symptoms.
David Spence
I wonder if any of the Royal Family get it, they will name it the Coronation Virus?……….Gob forbid if it should strike the cast of Coronation Street.
Alastair Ball
I have been following the contributions on Coronavirus Virus and it seems to me that a lot of these contributions started as opinions but now they are becoming very judgemental and politicised e.g “Another ditherer like Trump!!”
I would like to suggest that folks should look at the Channel 4 interview with Dr Richard Hatchett the CEO of the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. So far this is the most informative discussion I have listen to.
Why don’t we start discussing what we can do to keep ourselves and our communities safe and informed by taking appropriate and reasonable measures based on current factually based information
Avalina Kreska
@DavidSpence
Ha! It could go down in the Shetland annals too:
Up-Helly-Aahhh Song
From grand old recent centuries, The mighty Covid come,
Then blow the nose, catch the cough and sound the rolling drum,
And wake the mighty memories of people and good cheer
The ever distant memory now gives way to fear…
There’s a hangmans noose with my name on it now… 🙂
David Spence
Avalina, my dear, one should forward this to the Up Helly Aa Committee…….I am sure they will find a place for it………..apart from the bin. Only joking dear. lol
Do not cough on the hangman. lol
Mind you, with Health and Safety and all that crap…….lol
Stuart Hannay
I’m with Monsieur Camus on this one:
“At the beginning of a pestilence and when it ends, there’s always a propensity for rhetoric. In the first case, habits have not yet been lost; in the second, they’re returning. It is in the thick of a calamity that one gets hardened to the truth – in other words, to silence”
Alastair Ball
Silence is the word, in fact deafening. The Covid 19 coverage is wall to wall on TV, internet etc. What is very quietly going on is the market free fall and an oil production war between Russia and Saudi Arabia – a bit different from the coverage of 2008 and 1998. I listened to a market analyst talk about “fear has yet to spike” in relation to the markets. I am glad to hear that that the Finance Manager has advised that we don’t need to panic. Good advice – it’s not his money.
The drop in oil price could be devastating – Capex cut backs, field viability brought into question, delayed maintenance campaigns all which could have a major impact on our oil sector and therefore our communities – what are elected and non elected officials saying about that – silence.
I am sure that school closure terrify many parents, being home with the kids is great, being away from work is not.
What is the economic response plan and if they have one when will it be made public.
John Tulloch
Indeed. I understand from today’s ST that the SIC has approved a budget that will require £10.5 million “above sustainable levels” to be taken from the council’s reserve fund at a time when stock markets have already fallen by around 25 percent and are ‘heading south’.
The impact of “unsustainable” use of funds on the value of the council’s reserves will be much greater as a result of the stock market collapse.
I appreciate the council’s position, however, if you’re going to live off your capital, it’s better to do it in a heathy market than a crashing one.