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.

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:

• get the vaccine or the vaccine booster 
• if you don’t have symptoms take regular lateral flow tests – especially before mixing with other people
• wear a face covering where required
• if you have symptoms – self isolate and book a PCR test
• wash your hands regularly, and cover your nose and mouth if coughing or sneezing
• open windows when meeting indoors
• if you can, keep your distance from people not in your group
• work from home if possible
• use the apps: COVID status, Protect Scotland and Check-in Scotland

Omicron Evidence Paper can be downloaded here:

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