The cumulative total of covid cases recorded in Orkney is now at 158 as 3 more positive tests results were published today.
You can see from this data from SEPA’s monitoring of waste water how Covid has advanced into Orkney from a negative result on 9th June to continued positive results now.

The stats for Scotland published on 7th of August 2021 are as follows:
- 1,386 new cases of COVID-19 reported
- 24,025 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results
- 6.3% of these were positive
- 9 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive
- 41 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
- 359 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
- 4,022,914 people have received the first dose of the Covid vaccination and 3,305,325 have received their second dose
Despite the deaths and the number of people requiring hospitalisation – some of whom have been double vaccinated – Scotland will move to ‘Beyond Level 0’ on Monday.
In the week ending 1 August, 46 deaths were registered where COVID-19 was on the death certificate
Since the start of the outbreak:
7,983 people have died who have tested positive as at 6 August
10,370 deaths have been registered in Scotland where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate up to 1 August
32% of COVID-19 registered deaths related to deaths in care homes, 61% were in hospitals and 7% were at home or non-institutional settings (as at 1 August)
Link: What normal?
The wearing of Face Masks will continue to be mandatory in Scotland when out shopping and indoors – but not when dancing in crowded night clubs.
People in Scotland 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
People aged 16 -17 are being encouraged to get vaccinated.

For those in Orkney aged 16 and 17 who are on the mainland of Orkney and linked South Isles will be invited, by letter, to attend their Covid-19 vaccination. Letters should start to be delivered from Monday (9th) August with clinics being held on Thursday 12th, Friday 13th and Monday 16th August. Those on the (outer) Isles will be contacted by their GP practice.
These letters are being sent to patients who are aged 16 or over as of 1st August 2021. Anyone else will be contacted during the month of August who turns 16 to arrange their vaccination.
If you’re in this age group and want more information on the vaccination, you can view the leaflet here http://www.healthscotland.com/…/56564-COVID-19…
Fiona Grahame
Categories: Uncategorized
Today is one of these days when I wonder how much information is kept under wraps from NHS Orkney.
The information policy of the Western Isles NHS and the Council appears to be far more transparent, for example do residents there know to which clusters new cases belong, whether there are connections, when people are transferred to mainland hospitals or if any new clusters result in sad news like the recent devastating death toll of cases in a local care home. I am referring to these two articles: http://www.hebrides-news.com/covid-patient-airlifted-to-hospital-6821.html and http://www.hebrides-news.com/third-death-at-care-home-6821.html (but there are obviously more).
These are vital informations. Only if such information is published, people can adapt their own behaviour. Otherwise the (possibly wrong) impression could develop that infection risks are low. WIth legal requirements being replaced by recommendations and further restriction-easing from Monday onwards, people might be far more inclined to follow these recommendations if they are aware of the risks.
Reasonable and responsible behaviour (which includes mask-wearing, outside activities, physical distancing etc.) is the most important tool to keep infection levels down. Infection levels of a disease for which we still have only very limited treatment options, which can result in long-term health issues and disability, and for which we have vaccines which appear to prevent the worst but will not work in everyone.
This is why we need to stick to some additional infection prevention measures, especially now with the return to school imminent.
Appropriately disseminated information (NHS and OIC) is part of public health management!