Today’s figures are a stark warning to anyone getting complacent about Covid, particularly in Orkney, which has seen few cases up till now.

The cumulative total in Orkney has now reached 48.

If you look at these stats you will also notice the sharp rise in the Western Isles. Such was the concern for the island of Barra which has seen a very sharp rise in covid cases that NHSWI Chief Exec Gordon Jamieson issued this statement on Twitter:

Islands are not immune to Covid.

STV News last night reported on a hospital ward treating Covid cases. People really need to take on board the seriousness of this virus.

The stats for Scotland, 16th of January are:
1,753 new cases of COVID-19 reported
24,314 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results – 8.4% of these were positive
78 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive
145 people are in intensive care with recently confirmed COVID-19
1,863 people are in hospital with recently confirmed COVID-19
224,840 people have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination and 3,331 have received their second dose

Remember FACTS

• wear a face covering
• avoid crowded places
• clean hands and surfaces regularly
• stay 2m away from other people
• self-isolate and book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms (new continuous cough, fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste)

And download the Protect Scotland contact tracing app