2 New #Covid Cases in Orkney as Concern Grows Over #Omicron Variant

The cumulative total of Covid cases in Orkney has now reached 958 as 2 new positive tests were recorded in the Health Board area.

The stats for Scotland published on 10th of December 2021 are as follows:

  • 5,018 new cases of COVID-19 reported*
  • 57,764 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results*
    • 9.3% of these were positive
  • 19 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive
  • 40 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
  • 573 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
  • 4,359,959 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, 3,969,494 have received their second dose, and 2,040,070 have received a third dose or booster.

*There has been a higher number of tests received in the last 24 hours as labs begin to address the turnaround time between specimens being taken and results being received and reported.

There is increasing concern about the Omicron variant.

it is highly probable that Omicron will outcompete Delta and become the dominant variant within Scotland very quickly, with the potential to cause high case numbers.

Because of the danger this presents Public Health Scotland have asked people to postpone Christmas parties until it is safe to hold them. Public Health Scotland Urges People to Postpone Christmas Parties

How might Omicron grow?

Based on data to 6th December, an estimate of a doubling time for Scotland of between 2.18 – 2.66 days using S-gene target failure as a proxy for Omicron cases.

Estimated proportion of Omicron cases in Scotland based on S-gene target failure, data to 6th December
Estimate of the proportion of Omicron cases in Scotland in the coming weeks

Omicron is spreading at a rate that threatens a rapid and large surge of COVID-19 cases. Even if the resulting illness is relatively mild the number of cases could potentially cause great disruption to other services, in the economy and businesses, and in wider society, as more people would be absent from work due to illness and asked to isolate if they test positive, or as contacts of someone who has tested positive.

It also means that the rapid rise in Omicron infections could put significant additional pressure on hospitals and other health and care services, close to the point in the winter when they are already likely to be at peak pressure. The evidence that Omicron is here and is spreading fast, and uncertainty over how it responds to vaccines and how much severe illness it causes, are grounds for concern about what might happen as it becomes the dominant strain of the virus. Omicron in Scotland

To help protect yourself and others:

Omicron Evidence Paper can be downloaded here:

Related story: Public Health Scotland Urges People to Postpone Christmas Parties

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