Schools remain open after coronavirus outbreak in isles
Ryan Taylor
Schools are remaining open after confirmation of two cases of coronavirus reaching the isles.
The council’s head of children’s services Helen Budge has been in contact with Scottish government officials.
It follows online posts of families self-isolating amid concerns over COVID-19.
However, health officials are said to have advised against self isolation, unless people are told otherwise, or are unwell.
The SIC has been “signposting” concerned parents to advice produced by Health Protection Scotland.
Schools manager Shona Thompson said advice over coronavirus was a “moving feast”, but said staff at Hayfield House had been in talks with public health representatives.
“We’ve been signposting folk to the advice that exists,” she said, highlighting a “very helpful document” from Health Protection Scotland.
“We’ve had conversations with staff in public health and what they are telling us is that you don’t self-isolate unless public health have told you to, or you are feeling unwell.
“We’re saying to folk, ‘this is the guidance, if you are unsure phone your GP and a clinician will phone you back’.”
She added health officials were also advising that that those potentially at risk would “have to have had the right amount of contact at the right time”.
“It is a moving feast as you can imagine”.
She added: “Helen [Budge] has had a conversation with the Scottish government and has passed our information onto them.
“We’ve been told that any school closures will be taken by the Scottish government – and it will be Scotland-wide.”
She added: “We’re not at that stage yet – we’re still in this ‘containment’ stage.”
It came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a Cobra meeting on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, NHS Shetland is working nationally and locally with partner organisations to actively
monitor two positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.
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.”
Ernie Moritz
Has anyone considered what happens when the Northlink ferry gets infected and all the crew have to isolate?
The boat will need a deep clean and a new crew. What about the pilots, air crew and groud crew having to recover from the virus?
We live on an island and the rest of the nation is going to be dealing with their own problems. The last thing our community needs is to not only be cut off from mainland medical support but have a virus running rampant around the schools and back to people’s homes. We don’t have the infrastructure to deal with this, so they should limit the spread as much as possible.
Do the math, 5% of 24,000 people will need a special hospital bed with oxygen. Do we have 1,200 hospital beds?
What’s the advice? Wash your hands?…Good luck with that!
john ridland
Ernie Moritz, Today we will kill 6 humans on uk roads , Tomorrow the same and the next and next…!
Maybe we should close ALL the roads in the UK ,?
Anyway you just keep ramping up the Panic, good luck with that….NOT…….!
Anthony Gilfillan
Sounds about right, I remember days at the anderson when the snow was so bad that busses were in very late. And the headteacher only said that people should’ve woken up earlier. (Yeah, that would’ve made the busses go much faster…)
Take more than a plague to close schools round here! Haha!
Remain vigilant people, check symptoms and the like. While it’s not as killer as the media says, it’s still spreading fast. Don’t hide in your basement with a gas mask and detoll. Chances are this will be a thing for a while. Chances are, you’ll get it anyway. If you do, don’t panic. Just try to keep to yourself and have a friend slip pizza through your letterbox. (Or whatever) Ride it out, you’ll most likely be okay!
And maybe instead of panic buying toilet paper, buy some immodium instead.