The cumulative total of Covid cases in Orkney is now at 4,755.
The water monitoring of Kirkwall sewage shows continued high results of coronavirus’ ribonucleic acid (RNA) in local waste water samples.
As the number of positive tests recorded in Orkney continues to fall it could be that people are either not aware they are infectious or that they are aware but are not taking a test to confirm it. It could also be an issue with the collection of data at a national level.
The stats for Scotland published on 31st March 2022 are as follows:
- 9,064* new cases of COVID-19 reported
- 35 new reported deaths of people who have tested positive
- 25 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
- 2,381 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19
- 4,354,556 people have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, 4,092,996 have received their second dose, and have 3,451,683 received a third dose or booster
*Please note that Public Health Scotland (PHS) are aware of potential data flow issues which may be resulting in lower than usual numbers of LFD tests and cases. PHS are currently investigating.
- get the vaccine or the vaccine booster
- if you don’t have symptoms take lateral flow tests twice a week, and if visiting someone vulnerable or going to a crowded place
- if you have symptoms – self isolate and book a PCR test
- you must wear a face covering (unless exempt) in most indoor public spaces and on public transport – from 4 April the requirement to wear a face covering in places of worship, and during marriage ceremonies, civil partnership registrations, funeral services and commemorative events will be lifted
- open windows when meeting indoors
- wash your hands regularly, and cover your nose and mouth if coughing or sneezing
- work from home as well as the office if you can – businesses and workplaces should follow the safer workplace guidance
- use the apps: COVID status (vaccine passport) and Protect Scotland
See also: #Covid Update: Restrictions Ease in Scotland as Hospitalisations Increase
Categories: News
I understand that SEPA will halt the sampling of local waste water at the end of March – the last
reading shown above may have been the final one.
Surely an infrequent but regular sampling does not not cost much to do – yet it provides a useful guide to how much of the virus is present amongst us. The latest results present the highest ever RNA readings to date – by a long way.
It does seem, like in England, that the relevance of testing is being abandoned.
I will continue to use LFD tests when appropriate and report each result.
It is time for the governments to be honest with us and admit that a herd immunity strategy is being implemented.
Where did you get this information from? This would be madness… I haven’t yet heard that the monitoring will be abandoned. SEPA’s website doesn’t mention it.
https://informatics.sepa.org.uk/RNAmonitoring/
Scotland’s Covid-19 waste water monitoring programme extended until March 2022
I’m sure I read recently that monitoring would stop after March 2022. I cannot find the source.
If I am wrong I shall be glad. Presumably this is funded by the Scottish Government.
Thanks for the link!
Surely, they must have decided in the meantime to extend beyond that date? After all, that was published a year ago. Otherwise, there would be no surveillance mechanism (other than possibly ONS which will apparently continue… for now), since testing is about to disappear.