The cumulative total of positive covid test results recorded in Orkney now stands at 92.
On 25th of June Public Health Scotland (PHS) investigated a potential delay in laboratory processing of specimens in the Lighthouse labs, which resulted in specimen numbers being lower than might otherwise been expected by an estimated 800-1,110 cases based on historical reporting patterns.
This has been resolved as of 29th of June.
The stats for Scotland published on 30th June 2021 are as follows:
- 3,887 new cases of COVID-19 reported
- 41,710 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results
- 9.8% of these were positive
- 3 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive
- 19 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
- 235 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
- 3,799,467 people have received the first dose of the Covid vaccination and 2,712,237 have received their second dose
Anyone who thought this was all over, or that we could ‘stand down’ and ‘drop our guard’, is very much mistaken.
Tragically 10,168 deaths have been registered in Scotland where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate up to 27th of June 2021. A third of these were in Care Homes.
Last year, deaths in Scotland increased by 10% more than in 2019. There were 17,284 fewer births than deaths registered in 2020, with the 46,809 births being the lowest annual total ever recorded since records began in 1855, according to figures released by National Records of Scotland. This was the highest level of excess deaths seen since 1940.
Julie Ramsay, Vital Events Statistician, said:
“With over 64,000 deaths in 2020, which is 10% higher than in 2019, the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Scotland are clear.”
Vaccinations
Uptake of vaccinations against Covid in Scotland have been very high.
In Orkney, of those aged 18 years and over, 16,714 (91.6%) have had their first dose of the vaccine and 14,078 (77.2%) have had both doses.
Everyone is encouraged to continue to follow FACTS. The more cases of Covid there is, the more likelihood that the virus will mutate. The Delta variant is the most common one now in Scotland, having been introduced through travel from India. The virus only spreads when given the opportunity to do so. It does that via people and spreads the more we travel.
Remember to:
- wear a face covering
- avoid crowded places
- clean hands and surfaces regularly
- stay 2m away from other people
- self-isolate and get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms
- download the Protect Scotland app
For more information if you need tested : Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested in Scotland
And If you do not have symptoms (lateral flow tests)
Categories: Uncategorized
And sadly, two of the three deaths reported across Scotland today appear to be social care workers (see change from yesterday to today in section NHS and care home staff at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-daily-data-for-scotland/).
And yet, people are still going away on holiday, coming back from holiday, going to pubs – moving about generally like nothing’s happening.
Excerpt from an email from friends in New Zealand, received a couple of days ago…..
“COVID is still only in managed isolation facilities ( where people who fly into the country have to stay for 14 days after arrival) but last week a couple from Australia went on a weekend trip around the capital, Wellington, and subsequently tested positive for the Delta variant so possibly we have an outbreak and lockdown rules about to be applied.”
Imagine how hard it would be for the people of New Zealand to go into lockdown again after enjoying so much freedom for a time – it only took the thoughtless behaviour of a couple of people, to jeopardise that freedom.
Scotland was doing very well, Orkney was doing exceptionally well, then………….thoughtless, selfish actions – that’s what it comes down to – oh, and greed.
I don’t think it comes down to ‘greed’. It comes down to incompetency. Scotland – and the UK as a whole – should have been more creative in finding ways to mitigate economic and social impacts. For example, many businesses might have been able to continue trading if sensible measures would have been applied. I remember BBC news showing last year waiters (during the help-out-the-virus-scheme) in hospitality with just face shields… interviewing people with masks dangling under their noses…
Many businesses are under existential threat, this is desperation and not greed. But to trade safely they need support and advice; just to ease restrictions and warn people that sacrifices are inevitable as a consequence, does not help these businesses. In fact, it might land them in dire straits and make matters worse.
We (I mean the leadership of the country) have taken a cavalier approach right from the start, have not taken notice from developments elsewhere etc.
Now all bets are on the vaccine rollout, disregarding the fact that vaccinations alone most likely are not enough to get out of crisis mode. Vaccinations are part of the solution, they are not the one and only silver bullet.
We have family and friends all over the world… some of which in countries much more successful in containing the virus than we are. What works and what doesn’t could be learned so easily… instead here we don’t listen and watch… and this could be a fatal mistake.
If we want this to end and not drag out over months (or years!) we should act accordingly. Probably, wanting to get all freedoms back now at whatever cost, is not the right approach.
I wasn’t so much meaning the businesses – hospitality, shops etc, feeling a need to make a living.
I meant…….well….those who want to make money regardless of the risks to others.
There is big difference.
I don’t claim to know you – but from what I can tell from what you write, I think that you know that.
I didn’t mean the owner of an hotel, restaurant or shop who might never be able to open again. What it comes down to is, I meant rich bastards who want more and more – that’s who I meant when I write of greed.