The cumulative total of Covid cases in Orkney is now at 1,667 as 32 new positive cases were recorded in the Health Board area.

Across Orkney from 2nd to 8th of January 2022 positive cases were recorded as follows:

• West Mainland: 20
• Stromness, Sandwick, Stenness: 37
• East Mainland: 55
• Isles:15

The positivity rate for this period was 23.9%

The stats for Scotland published on 11th of January 2022 are as follows:

• 10,392 new cases of COVID-19 reported*
• 43,739 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results*
  • 27.7% of these were positive
• 16 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive
• 54 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 1,479 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
• 4,393,689 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, 4,051,635 have received their second dose, and 3,130,502 have received a third dose or booster

* There continues to be large volumes of tests being processed by labs; this has impacted turnaround times resulting in delays between specimen’s beings taken and results being received and reported. PHS are continuing to monitor the situation.

Changes to Reporting of Tests

On 5 January 2022, the Scottish Government announced that people who do not have symptoms will no longer be asked to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to confirm a positive Lateral Flow Device (LFD) result.

Instead, anyone with a positive LFD, who does not have symptoms, should report the result online as soon as the test is done.

In order to ensure that PHS continue to provide the most accurate information, changes have been made to the national COVID-19 case definition to reflect this revised testing strategy.

At present, PHS report on PCR tests only. 

From Thursday 13 January, PHS will begin reporting on the number of people with a COVID-19 infection confirmed by either a first LFD or PCR positive test.

You should take regular lateral flow tests if you do not have symptoms of COVID-19. If you get a positive LFD result, changes to testing arrangements mean that you do not need to take a PCR test to confirm this. Get LFD tests

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (a fever, new continuous cough, or loss of sense of taste or smell) it is important to isolate and book a PCR test – that advice has not changed.

Follow the guidance on NHS Inform on self-isolating and booking a test.

• get the vaccine or the vaccine booster 
• take regular lateral flow tests – especially before mixing with other people or visiting a hospital or care home  – get LFD tests
• follow the guidance on self-isolating and booking a test
• wear a face covering where required
• limit your social contact – gather in groups of no more than 3 households
• wash your hands regularly and cover your nose and mouth if coughing or sneezing
• open windows when meeting indoors
• work from home, if you can
• use the apps: COVID status, Protect Scotland and Check-in Scotland