UPDATE: Coronavirus cases in the isles hit double digits
Coronavirus cases in the isles have risen to 11.
NHS Shetland confirmed on Friday afternoon that there were five more positive tests for Covid-19.
The number of cases has now hit double digits, following cases tripling on Thursday to six.
Scotland has entered the ‘delay’ phase of handling the pandemic, with the Scottish government advising that gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled from next week.
The move to ‘delay’ also means that arrangement regarding contract tracing and testing will be changing.
School authorities announced today that all isles schools, including the Anderson High School, will be closed to children and young people next week, with the exception of Fair Isle, Fetlar and Foula Primary Schools – schools will remain open for staff.
Previously released Scottish government figures on Friday indicating cases remained at six were not updated.
Marlyn Bain
It would be good to know how many people have been tested in Shetland, how many were negative, how many results are still pending and how long it takes from test to results being received.
Julie Mackie
It no longer matters as far as I understand. If anyone can correct me, that would be splendid.
Kennedy Stewart
The lack of transparency is concerning. Only those hospitalised and suspected of having COVID19 will be tested for it now. The NHS will no longer attempt to track and trace the virus in the community. With 11 confirmed cases in Shetland are we really at the stage where we can no longer contain the spread?
Pat Marley
It does not matter how many people are infected does it? If people were just sensible and took simple precautions it would help.
The problem is who do you believe when it comes to advice. Good old soap and water will do a good a job as any sanitizer Enviromental health pushed sanitizer to the top of the list only because it gave them another piece of legislation to be in control of.
Who do you believe when it comes to numbers do you believe our local health board or the Scottish government who do not want Shetland to be at the top of any % list per capita.
As for testing , stay at home if you think you have it why put others at risk by going to a surgery.
Ps Has anyone heard the rumour about Swine Flu in North Mavine allegedly quite a number of cases, you do not think the Scot. Government would want that kept quiet do you?
Michael Welsh
Pat Marley, ‘Scottish government who do not want Shetland to be at the top of any % list per capita.’, that’s a very strange statement, what’s that all about then?
Pat Marley
The Scottish Government does not want to publish the true number of people infected.If you take what our hard working local health tell us the number is almost double what SG says.
So with Shetland having a smaller population than say Glasgow if 1000 got infected in Shetland the headlines would be 5% of Shetlanders infected whereas in Glasgow it would be insignificant as a %.
Why do you think the alleged 50 cases of Swine flu have been ignored and by whom?
Pat Marley
As i wrote earlier. The Times Sat 21/03/20
CORONAVIRUS
Coronavirus: Swine flu piles more pressure on Shetland’s health system
Michael Dickson, chief executive of NHS Shetland, said people have been turning up at the Gilbert Bain hospital in Lerwick demanding to be tested for coronavirus
Michael Dickson, chief executive of NHS Shetland, said people have been turning up at the Gilbert Bain hospital in Lerwick demanding to be tested for coronavirus
ALAMY
Marc Horne
Saturday March 21 2020, 12.01am, The Times
Shetland, the area of the UK worst affected by coronavirus, has also been hit by an outbreak of swine flu, heaping further pressure on its health services.
With 24 confirmed coronavirus cases the islands, which have no intensive care facilities and a population of 20,000, have the highest rate of the condition per capita of anywhere in the British isles.
It has recorded more than seven cases per 10,000 compared with about 0.5 cases per 10,000 in Glasgow.
Susan Laidlaw, public health consultant with NHS Shetland, confirmed there had also been an outbreak of H1N1 or swine flu.
She told BBC Radio Shetland: “We have had positive results for swine flu that caused the pandemic several years ago.”
Stuart Paton
https://youtu.be/BYTFk34nhoI
Well worth watching Dr John Campbell on youtube who has been following this since January and provides an easy to understand daily update on the Covid 19 Virus.
Yesterdays video is linked above.
Pat Marley
Thanks for the link, Very informative and just telling it how it is. Presenter was brilliant.
You have to give Bojo brownie points for coming out as PM and telling it as straight as he can without making people panic
David Britton
As an annual visitor to Shetland from NE England, booked in again for a fortnight in September, this is very worrying and very surprising. I had hoped Shetland was a Covid19 free oasis being so remote from most of UK. There is so far only one case in Redcar and Cleveland where I live in a population of 137K compared with only 23K in Shetland where the Covid19 cases per head of population might be one of the highest in UK.
Janice McTell
With amount of people travelling in and out of Shetland how on earth did you think it could be free of the virus? Shetland isn’t Narnia. And just because there is only one case recorded in Redcar and Cleveland doesn’t meant there aren’t more cases there. People aren’t being tested.
David Britton
Yes, I agree. Germany is testing far more people than in UK and they have a much lower death rate than most European countries. Over 1 million people signed a UK petition to have unwell health workers tested in UK. It is scandalous that doctors and nurses feeling unwell are being taken off work for up to 14 days without being tested. I gather that UK scientists are looking closely at the Germany situation to see what can be learned. Redcar and Cleveland cases now 21. According to the Sun web site, Orkney is still free of confirmed cases. I had hoped for the sake of all Shetlanders that Shetland would be the same.
Derek king
Sorry to hear about the amount of locals with the virus. My girl and I visited last sept. What a dream holiday. We intended to come again this sept but have refrained from booking till this is all over. Unfortunately foolish people have carried on going on holiday long after the virus has kicked of in the whole of Europe. I’m from Scotland but living in Gibraltar and trust me everything is in lockdown as it should be. So to selfish people intending to go on holiday don’t. It’s not rocket science some places don’t have it bad yet as they have no tourists. All the best Shetland we are looking forward to seeing you again when everyone is better. Derek and Michelle from gibraltar
Mrs. Kathleen Danby
I read in the article that “Fair Isle, Fetlar and Foula schools are remaining open”. I know Fair Isle is still free of the virus, but does this mean that Fetlar and Foula are also?