The cumulative total of Covid cases in Orkney is now at 1,794 as 10 new positive PCR tests have been recorded in the Health Board area.
The combined PCR and LFD statistics for Orkney via the PHS website for 27th of January 2022 are as follows:
- PCR only: 7
- Combined LFD and positive PCR: 1
- LFD only: 12
- Total: 20
Between 18th and 24th of January 2022 the positive PCR cases recorded across Orkney were as follows:
- West Mainland: 6
- Stromness, Sandwick, Stenness: 12
- East Mainland: 11
- Isles: 8
The positivity rate was 11.7%
Water RNA monitoring was also displaying positive records for 19th January 2022 for the area covered by the Kirkwall sewer works.
Chair of OLECG, Orkney’s Area Commander for Police Scotland, Chief Inspector Ali Garrow, urged caution. He said:
“It is important that we do not take our eye off the ball here in Orkney and for people not to become complacent given the further relaxation of rules.
“As has been witnessed in the past Orkney is often behind the times in terms of how the virus spreads and waves have arrived on our doorstep later than in other areas. We need to be careful that the national messaging, which currently sits well within larger city areas, does not impact negatively here.
“The simple solution is for everyone to maintain the good practices in place that have kept many of us safe to this point. They include the wearing of masks, distancing, sanitising and keeping up the regular lateral flow testing and logging the results online whether positive or negative which help our colleagues in Public Health keep on top of potential community transmission.”
The stats for Scotland published on 27th January 2022 are as follows:
- 8,275 new cases of COVID-19 reported. Please note that this figure now includes cases identified using either a first LFD (Lateral Flow Device) or PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) positive test
- 20 new reported deaths of people who have tested positive
- 30 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
- 1,319 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
- 4,408,534 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, 4,117,631 have received their second dose, and 3,274,918 have received a third dose or booster
New guidance which will come into force in Scotland can be found here: Coronavirus (COVID-19): staying safe and protecting others
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 and visiting hospitals and care homes
- if mixing with others keep gatherings small until at least the end of January – keep your distance from people not in your group
- 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
- work from home whenever possible until the changes take place on 31 January
- use the apps: COVID status (vaccine passport), Protect Scotland and Check-in Scotland
In Scotland you must wear a face covering when you go into any retail premises including any indoor area of a shopping centre, unless exempt. You should also wear a face covering in crowded outdoor spaces. Read the face covering guidance
Categories: Uncategorized
We should hit 2,000 nicely in time for the Spring increase in folk travelling to and from Orkney.
Deep joy.
‘The Orkney News’ provides a valuable service presenting this daily update. The occurrence of inaccuracies in the figures is not down to Fiona – that lies with the organizations compiling the statistics in the first place.
Inaccuracies in the statistics is a cause for concern and begs the question why is that happening? But I’d say the main thing to worry about is that Covid still appears to be thriving in Orkney – and why is THAT happening?
You are correct, Bernie, the stats are fraught with inconsistencies, errors and other issues, and this stems from where they are compiled.
This is concerning. I find it also questionable that test positivity rates are still based on PCR tests alone and not on PRC plus LFT results.
Overall, reporting appears to follow its own mysterious paths: for example has PHS not reported any ‘new’ death for Shetland in the daily figures over the last 7 days, but reported today one which ocurred over the last 7 days.
Similarly, we cannot know for how many island residents in any of the three island healthboards an infection resulted in a hospital stay. For example, have 5 patients been reported for the three island healthboards together. Yesterday, the number was 6. Patients are being counted where they are at midnight (according to a FOI request to PHS a short while ago), hence we can only speculate whether any ‘drops’ in numbers are discharge, transfer to mainland for more complex treatment or ICU, or death. We also have no idea, how many are at the verge or risk of severe disease and hospital admission during attempts to avert this by administering antivirals (which come with their own issues) at home. The numbers of patients under this regime (i.e. Molnupiravir) should also be published for each healthboard (weekly totals would do).
The severity of the disease at levels which would be palpable and transparent for the general public in the isles, is thereby being veiled and we have no outcome reporting at all although this would be relevant for people to conduct their own personal risk assessments and adapt behaviour accordingly.
I’m not being flippant or dismissive about this – far from it – but …..I see it as being part of the general muddle which has attended the way Government, and its minions, has approached the Pandemic right from the start. I needn’t go into that – it’s all there, clear as day.
So, what me and Mike do is……we…..
” conduct their own personal risk assessments and adapt behaviour accordingly.”
Only thing to do amid the madness and mess. Assess, and take individual responsibility for our actions.
I have also asked the organizers of certain events – indoor events – why they are taking that line of action at this time. One responded – reasonably and fully – and we agreed to differ. The other three – no response.
Hiding head in sand – doing what they want to do, regardless – usual story these days – unfortunately.
Yes – typing this is making me angry. Getting angry serves no purpose, but I believe that letting them know that there are folk who don’t go along with this behaviour, and therefore won’t be going to the events, is worth doing.
Meanwhile – I spend as much time as possible in the garden.
I sometimes think the frogs in the pond have more sense than humans!
‘General muddle’… you may want to read this, apparently the approach the UK government has taken, does come at a cost…
Michael Bayerlein, Vanessa A. Boese, Scott Gates, Katrin Kamin and Syed Mansoob Murshed (2021), “Populism and COVID-19: How Populist Governments (Mis)Handle the Pandemic”, Journal of Political Institutions and Political Economy: Vol. 2: No. 3, pp 389-428. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/113.00000043
Like yourselves, we are conducting our own risk assessments. What bothers me most is that one almost needs to justify and defend our position because many people just listen to headlines and soundbites and dismiss anybody’s cautious approach as being overly anxious. We are not anxious. We are simply not willing to engage in a life and death gamble. We are simply not willing to contribute to rising infection rates which only do one thing: give the virus more opportunity to evolve and develop new strategies to find a way round immunity.
It is not a withdrawal from society if one remains at home, if one puts socialising on hold for the time being and keeps working from home. It is a decision which must be respected.
The frogs in the pond listen to their instincts… and not to soundbites… so you might be correct there!
The data and resulting statistics are continuing to be questionable.
The omission of LFT test results from some data is bewildering.
However what is concerning me more is the UK death rate.
Why with cases allegedly falling along with hospitalisations (more slowly?) are daily deaths remaining constantly high at 300+. All this over the last 3 weeks – with no sign yet of it reducing.
Who are dying and why, when Omicron is supposed to be less dangerous.
At my age and with underlying medical conditions this is personally concerning.
With the population well vaccinated this death rate is a THIRD of the rate that it was at it’s very peak when wide spread vaccination was only beginning and the virus at it’s most dangerous.
This doesn’t add up to me.
Hello again S. Davidson
I had an email from a friend in America asking if the Covid situation is better in Britain ( I do wish she wouldn’t say ‘UK’ – but Americans tend to do that!), as she’s seen the raising of restrictions.
That’s what bothers me – folk all over the world thinking – “Britain is OK now – let’s go there.” EEEEEKKKKK!
I replied that I’m afraid that the situation re. Covid isn’t getting better – the lowering of restrictions is some kind of last-ditch attempt by Boris to get some popularity and save his sorry ass. God alone knows why the other leaders are doing it. Probably also to get popularity – the populace are getting fed up with the restrictions and want to ….do what they want to – Lord preserve us from the random decisions of the populace – that’s where the principle of democracy kind-of crashes.
Fiona’s article in TON today presents that populace with something they don’t appear to be taking on board – the evolution of the Virus.
https://theorkneynews.scot/2022/01/28/omicron-studying-its-evolutionary-pattern/
I know someone who presently has Covid, and she’s beating herself up about how did she catch it, as she really is very sensible and careful. She’s going over and over her movements in the days before she tested Positive. So – I reminded her that it IS a virus, and that viruses are little fiends. The gist of what I was hoping to get across is….she could do all the right things – but – a virus is a virus and they’ll sneak up and get you if they possibly can. You just can not be too careful when it comes to dealing with such an enemy. I later sent her the pieces I did in TON about Predators, and Viruses…..
https://theorkneynews.scot/2019/09/12/predators/
https://theorkneynews.scot/2021/12/12/viruses/
And yes, I agree, I get the impression that some folk think I’m/we’re being extreme in our approach to this little fiend – but I’ve never been one to let what non-thinkers, think of me. Sounds arrogant – maybe I am. There are worse things to be.
As to the frogs – just so – they are down, deep in the deepest part of the pond to avoid the bad weather.
But then – Kraak the Heron gets them.
Life – can be a bugger.
Meant to type…..
“but I’ve never been one to let what non-thinkers think of me matter too much.”
For an arrogant person – I do muddle, too.
well, you mentioned Boris, check out this publication:
Populism and COVID-19: How Populist Governments (Mis)Handle the Pandemic.
https://www.ifw-kiel.de/fileadmin/Dateiverwaltung/IfW-Publications/-ifw/Kiel_Working_Paper/2021/KWP_2192_Bayerlein_Boese_Gates_Kamin_Murshed_/KWP_2192.pdf
As for your friend: It may not necessarily have been her movements which caused the infection. Apparently, the current Omicron strain could have more environmental stability (preprint: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.18.476607v1.full) and persist longer on surfaces. If this is the case, plus the common airborne spread, it makes it even more tricky to escape it.
Hope she is ok and not experiencing it badly.
To put it bluntly in some slang: this virus is a ‘bastard’ and could well have even more surprises up its sleeve… sadly.
I just picked up this in an email from our friends in New Zealand – which has done so well, for so long……..
“We are just getting Omicron about to take off. Someone thought it was a good idea last w/e to put on a rock concert, now 8,000 people have been told to get tests ‘cos 100 people have tested positive from it and the numbers are expected to skyrocket. It may be our ‘super spreader event’.”
Three words – Del Amitri concert.
Heigh-ho.