Published by Public Health Scotland on 26th of October 2022 is the latest data on Covid:
- In Scotland, in the week ending 10 October 2022, the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 144,400 (95% credible interval: 122,000 to 168,700), equating to 2.74% of the population, or around 1 in 35 people (Source: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK – Office for National Statistics)
- In the week ending 23 October 2022, there were on average 874 patients in hospital with COVID-19, a 0.1% decrease from the previous week ending 16 October 2022 (875)
- In the week ending 23 October 2022 there were 8 new admissions to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) with a laboratory confirmed test of COVID-19, a decrease of 3 from the previous week (16 October 2022)
- By week ending 23 October 2022 of the 1,041,400 people vaccinated for COVID-19 as part of the Winter 2022 vaccination programme, 93.6% were vaccinated for Flu at the same vaccination appointment
- In the week ending 16 October 2022, there were 52 deaths involving COVID-19 (16 more than the previous week) (Source: National Records of Scotland)
The response to the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have a wider impact on health and care as a result of the lockdown, economic pressures and changes to health services.
Testing of waste water served by the Kirkwall sewage network for coronavirus’ ribonucleic acid (RNA) shows high positive levels. Previous tests were most likely affected by extensive periods of heavy rainfall.
All covid rules and restrictions have been lifted in Scotland, but the virus has not gone away.
We all need to keep playing our part to protect ourselves and others. You can do this by:
- getting the flu and COVID-19 vaccines if offered, to ensure you are fully protected
- staying at home if you’re unwell with symptoms or have a fever
- opening windows when socialising indoors
- wearing a face covering in indoor public places and on public transport
- washing your hands to protect yourself
Care for yourself and others to help slow down the spread of the virus and reduce pressure on our health services.
Categories: Uncategorized
I get the impression that in Britain today the majority of people are behaving as though Covid isn’t there. Very few wearing masks – very few testing and reporting the results – many gathering together indoors at crowded events etc. etc.
But – Covid is still very much present – we’re heading into winter and hospital admissions are going up.
What I’m thinking is……if there is a General Election and Britain gets an entirely new Government it’s possible that one of the first things that new Government will need to do is impose stricter Covid control measures again.
This will make them unpopular with the population – which would be a shame – especially as the present situation is due largely to the callousness and carelessness of the last Government.
Just a thought.
Meanwhile, Austria has re-imposed the protections for the vulnerable in workplaces. This was briefly suspended over the summer.
Vulnerable people who are at a higher risk of severe disease can stay at home and if homeworking is not possible due to the nature of their job, their employer gets their salary refunded by the state.
A commendable measure… which is obviously absent in the UK.
Whether a new or an old government, measures do not necessarily have to be strict but rather sensible and targeted.
Why word-pick, when we are in agreement?
I impose strict Covid measures on myself – I need to. I strain against them at times but realise how necessary they are.
A wider, on-going acceptance of stricter measures would, in my opinion, have been beneficial, and might not be a bad idea now.
I stick to the word ‘strict’ – sometimes it’s the only approach that will work with people. Mandatory, not choice.
And don’t throw the word Fascism at me, as I won’t rise to it. Don’t know why I’m rising to this except that I get tired of people picking at me for trying to do the right thing. For that matter – I’m just tired.
Tomorrow is another day
Sorry, if you misunderstood me. I didn’t intend to word-pick. And I certainly was not picking on you. It is just that I believe that many people (not you and not me) simply get so horribly stroppy when they hear that they should stick to “stricter” measures. This is why I personally just tend to use the – in my opinion – more diplomatic wording of “sensible” or “targeted” and so forth. You are right, basically this means the same: mandatory measures (because otherwise people won’t follow them).
As you have correctly identified “acceptance” is key, or at least it makes it easier to facilitate the right behaviour. And as we have seen over the course of the pandemic so far, many people didn’t accept guidance but only mandatory measures. Well, most did…
I fully agree that it is very tiring to do the right thing. It is also frustrating to know what would need to be done but isn’t done. Speak to any member of IndieSage and you will see that they share our frustration.
The measures our family is imposing on ourselves are very strict, probably very similar to your own. And life would be much easier, if the wider public would act accordingly, for the benefit of everyone else in society and the economy. But they won’t. And many won’t be forced… not by governments (new or old) who are not in support of any tough rules themselves.
The hope that things change or any government would be brave enough to do the right thing, is futile… unless things get so bad again that they have no other choice. After all, their instincts tell them not to do what could damage their popularity (in certain circles) and sadly, to some extent they all suffer from the party-before-people-syndrome.
The two of us (and probably a few silent ones as well) have the same objective. We just differ slightly in our ideas how to get there without too much resistance.
“We just differ slightly in our ideas how to get there without too much resistance.”
Aye – diplomacy doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m not ‘political’ in any sense of the word.
I am a bear and I growl…..sometimes I lash out.
But between thee and me …Pax.
That should read….”I’m not ‘politic’ in any sense of the word” – I am very political! Words – can be very useful, can cause muddle!