Orkney’s cumulative total of Covid cases has jumped to 150 as 4 new positive tests were recorded today.

The stats across Scotland as at 25th of July 2021 are

• NHS Great Glasgow & Clyde 291 new cases
• NHS Lothian 234 new cases
• NHS Lanarkshire 176 new cases
• NHS Grampian 98 new cases
• NHS Fife 83 new cases
• NHS Ayrshire & Arran 79 new cases
• NHS Forth Valley 73 new cases
• NHS Highland 67 new cases
• NHS Tayside 66 new cases
• NHS Borders 35 new cases
• NHS Dumfries & Galloway 24 new cases
• NHS Western Isles 4 new cases
• NHS Orkney 4 new cases
• NHS Shetland 3 new cases

In Scotland as a whole as of 25th of July 2021 the stats are as follows:

• 1,237 new cases of COVID-19 reported
• 18,180 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results
  • 7.5% 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)  
• 64 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 480 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 3,997,105 people have received the first dose of the Covid vaccination and 3,079,492 have received their second dose

The waste water monitoring by SEPA we reported on yesterday is clear evidence that this highly transmissible and potentially deadly virus is still very much present in Orkney. Orkney Islands Council has made the decision to welcome cruise ships back to the islands. Cruise Ships to Return to Orkney

People travelling to the islands are requested to take 2 lateral flow tests before doing so. This might go some way to limit the importation of the virus.

People are reminded to

• get the vaccine when you are offered it
• wear a face covering, clean hands and surfaces regularly
• avoid crowded places and stay 1m away from other people
• meet outside if you can, and open windows when indoors
• if you have symptoms get a test and stay at home
• take regular tests if you don’t have symptoms to reduce the risk of spreading the virus
• use the Protect Scotland and Check-in Scotland apps

Downloading the free NHS Scotland contact tracing app is especially important now that people are travelling about more.

In Scotland of those aged 18+ years, 89.4% have had their first dose of the vaccine and 69.1% have had the second dose.

In Orkney of those aged 18+ years, 91.6% have had their first dose of the vaccine and 80.7% have had the second dose.

In more detail ,only 28.1% of those aged 18 -25 in Orkney have had both doses.

Vaccination is one very important part of this fight to prevent the worst effects of the Covid virus in our communities. Following mask wearing and social distancing rules, contact tracing and just being careful in what you do are really vital too.

Some people, for other medical reason, or because they are too young, have not been vaccinated. The more cases of Covid there are, the more likely that variants will develop.

This link shows you the vaccination % for Europe: Covid 19 vaccination After a slow start,countries on mainland Europe are now working at an incredible rate to vaccinate their adult populations. But the whole world needs to be vaccinated and those figures are deeply worrying. Covid 19 vaccination worldwide with only 1.1% of people in low income countries having 1 dose.

Reporter: Fiona Grahame