As Scotland’s Covid vaccination programme continues apace, cases continue to rise across the whole of Scotland. In Orkney the cumulative total now stands at 49, and although the lowest in the country no one in the islands should become complacent. It is clear to be seen from the figures what happens once Covid gets into any community.

The stats for Scotland today, 18th of January, are as follows:

• 1,429 new cases of COVID-19 reported
• 13,294 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results – 12.3% of these were positive
• 0 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive (noting that Register Offices are now generally closed at weekends)
• 146 people are in intensive care with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 1,959 people are in hospital with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 264,991 people have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination and 3,698 have received their second dose

Scotland is vaccinating firstly those in Care Homes and then the over 80s in our communities. Scotland has an excellent record on vaccination programmes delivering them this time through local GPs and larger centres. The first vaccines against COVID-19 were administered on Tuesday 8 December.

People will be contacted by letter when and where it is their turn to be vaccinated with the first dose. Two doses are required to provide the best protection against the worst effects of Covid.

The Louisa Jordan Hospital which was established because of the Covid pandemic is being used as a vaccination centre and thousands have now received their first dose there. It is the aim of the Scottish Government to have vaccinated the first doses for everybody over aged 65 by the beginning of March. All this depends on the supply of the vaccine which is the remit of the UK Government.

This is a life changing and for some it will be a fatal virus to fall prey to.

Since the start of the outbreak:

• 5,305 people have died who have tested positive as at 18 January
• 7,704 deaths have been registered in Scotland where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate up to 10 January
• 39% of COVID-19 registered deaths related to deaths in care homes, 55% were in hospitals and 6% were at home or non-institutional settings (as at 10 January)

People in mainland Scotland are in tier 4 of restrictions and they must remain at home except for essential purposes. It is also illegal to travel into or out of Scotland except for essential purposes.

In her statement today, FM Nicola Sturgeon said:

“The best way of tackling the virus for all of us is to stay at home unless there is an essential reason to leave home, and that applies to travel. Do not travel unless you have an absolutely essential reason for doing so.

“You should only be leaving home right now for essential purposes, caring responsibilities, essential shopping, exercise, work that genuinely cannot be done from home.

“If you meet up with someone outdoors, you should only be meeting with one other person from one other household.

“And of course work from home if you possibly can. 

“And on any occasion when you are required to leave home, please remember FACTS.

• face coverings;
• avoid places that are busy;
• clean your hands and surfaces;
• use two metre distancing if you are talking to someone from another household
• and self-isolate and get a test if you have symptoms.

“Fundamentally, though, the best way of keeping ourselves safe right now while transmission rates remain as high as they are, is to stay at home as much as possible.”

And she continued:

“As the vaccination programme continues to gather pace, we will be slowing the virus down and giving the vaccination programme every possible chance of ultimately winning this race that we are in between the virus and the vaccine.

Download the free Protect Scotland app from NHS Scotland.