The cumulative total of Covid cases in Orkney is now at 803 as 10 new positive test results were recorded in the Health Board area.

From the 4th to the 10th of November 2021 the positive cases recorded across Orkney were as follows:
- West Mainland: 6
- Stromness, Sandwick, Stenness: 9
- East Mainland: 60
- North Isles, Linked South Isles, Hoy, Flotta, Graemsay: 11
The stats for Scotland published on 13th November 2021 are as follows:
- 3,052 new cases of COVID-19 reported
- 32,079 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results
- 10.1% of these were positive
- 13 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive
- 59 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
- 780 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
- 4,326,637 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination and 3,924,305 have received their second dose
People are reminded to:
- get the vaccine when you are offered it
- wear a face covering where required
- wash your hands regularly, and cover your nose and mouth if coughing or sneezing
- self isolate and take a PCR test if you have symptoms
- take regular tests if you don’t have symptoms to reduce the risk of spreading the virus
- meet outside if you can, and open windows when indoors
- keep your distance from people not in your group
- work from home, or do a mixture of home and office working if possible
- use the apps: COVID status (vaccine passport), Protect Scotland and Check-in Scotland

Categories: Uncategorized
I have just sent this to someone……
“It’s Saturday morning, and I received your letter in which you tell me that you are going to the Sylvia Hays exhibition, and you say to me…… “You will not approve.” Whether I approve or not is immaterial. What matters is that these events should not be happening, and people should not be attending them. Orkney is in an exceptional position for possible limiting of Covid infection but, apart from when legal restrictions were in place, the people in charge and also a lot of the public have tried to behave as if it’s not there.
This is the text of a letter, by me, which was published recently in The Orcadian….
“Dear Editor
On October the 28th 2021, the 24 hour figure for new Covid cases in Orkney was 55. When I saw this I thought it must be a mistake, but no – it was correct. Then, on the 29th, it was 22. Then, on the 30th, it was 33.
On the 31st, it was 8 and by that date the cumulative total of Covid cases in Orkney was at 541 and over the previous 7 days there had been 106 new cases in Orkney.
These are the figures.
So, what do we do? As those in charge nationally and locally don’t appear to be prepared to impose restrictions, we, the public, need to impose our own restrictions on ourselves. Wearing masks, keeping our distance. Not attending indoor gatherings with unknown people.
And – stop trying to kid ourselves that things are back to normal and that we can do what we want. They’re not, and we can’t.
I’m not being a kill-joy. I do miss live music – listening to a C.D. is good, but nothing like live. Needs must, and I will listen to C.D’s until it’s safe to ‘go live’.
It is hard on the musicians, as these time are hard on many working people, but the reality is that certain behaviour is vital if we are to have any hope of ridding humanity of this virus, or even simply limiting it’s spread.
Necessary activities such as shopping for what’s needed can’t be helped. Otherwise, what we want individually is immaterial – we have to think collectively, for the good of all.
As long as folk only look to what they want to happen and how they would like their life to be – the numbers will go up and up.
Yours
Bernie Bell
Rendall
Orkney”
The figures stay consistently high.
What it come down to is selfishness, thoughtlessness and an irresponsible approach to the situation we find ourselves in in these times. People wanting to do what they want to do and live their lives as they want – regardless of the possible consequences to others.
You refer to me as being your friend. Have you taken any time to think of how the life of your friend, and many others like her, has been limited by the presence of Covid in Orkney, when so much could have been prevented.
I am finding life very hard to deal with at the moment, and also how people are behaving. To have an example of this attitude arrive in a letter on Saturday morning is the last thing I needed.
I have been out in the garden – always my solace – have had an exuberant welcome from dog Papay, and have now calmed my mind enough to write this to you.
I am angry, very angry, but will now try to put this out of my mind and not let it mess up my weekend. We need the weekend to restore ourselves.
Bernie”
Today’s total is 10.