The weekly update by Public Health Scotland on Covid and Respiratory Cases on 2nd February 2023 is as follows:
Covid
In Scotland, in the week ending 17 January 2023, the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 92,400 (95% credible interval: 77,200 to 109,100), equating to 1.76% of the population, or around 1 in 55 people (Source: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK – Office for National Statistics)
There were on average 734 patients in hospital with COVID-19, a 17.6% decrease from the previous week ending 22 January 2023 (891).
As part of the Winter 2022 vaccination programme 1,983,634 people have been vaccinated for COVID-19 and 1,930,779 adults have been vaccinated for influenza. 90.1% were vaccinated for influenza and COVID-19 at the same vaccination appointment.
Seasonal coronavirus by NHS Health Board In week 04 (week ending 29/01/2023):
- NHS Fife, Lanarkshire, Shetland, Tayside, and Western Isles remained at Baseline activity level.
- NHS Orkney decreased from High to Baseline activity level.
- NHS Dumfries & Galloway and Lothian decreased from Moderate to Baseline activity level.
- NHS Forth Valley and Greater Glasgow & Clyde decreased from Low to Baseline activity level.
- NHS Ayrshire & Arran remained at Low activity level.
- NHS Borders, Grampian, and Highland remained at Moderate activity level
Activity across most NHS Health Boards was higher than what was reported for the same week of the 2021/2022 season
Flu
Influenza decreased to Low activity level (2.9 per 100,000 population). There were 158 influenza cases: 115 type A (not subtyped), 23 A(H3), nine A(H1N1)pdm09 and 11 type B, this compares to 287 laboratory-confirmed cases reported during week 03.
The overall rate of GP consultations for influenza-like illness (ILI) remained at Baseline activity level in week 04 (5.8 per 100,000 population). The ILI rate in week 03 was 9.7 per 100,000 population.
In week 04 (week ending 29/01/2023): All age groups remained at Baseline activity level. Activity across most age groups
was slightly higher than what was reported for the same week of the 2021/2022 season.
Laboratory confirmed diagnosis of influenza In week 04 (week ending 29/01/2023):
- There were 158 influenza cases: 115 type A (not subtyped), 23 A(H3), nine A(H1N1)pdm09 and 11 type B, this compares to 287 laboratory-confirmed cases reported during week 03
- The incidence rate of influenza decreased to Low activity level (2.9 per 100,000 population. Data are provisional and will be updated in next week’s report.
Influenza by NHS Health Board In week 04 (week ending 29/01/2023):
- NHS Dumfries & Galloway and Western Isles remained at Baseline activity level.
- NHS Highland, Lanarkshire, and Tayside decreased from Low to Baseline activity level.
- NHS Borders increased from Baseline to Low activity level.
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Lothian remained at Low activity level.
- NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Forth Valley, and Grampian decreased from Moderate to Low activity level.
- NHS Fife and Orkney remained at Moderate activity level.
- NHS Shetland increased from High to Extraordinary activity level.
Activity across most NHS Health Boards was higher than what was reported for the same week of the 2021/2022 season.
See also:
All Covid rules and restrictions have been lifted in Scotland, but the virus has not gone away. COVID-19, colds and flu can spread more easily in the winter.
To protect yourself and keep others safe:
- if you have symptoms of a virus, cold or flu, try to stay at home and avoid contact with others – if you do need to go out, wear a well-fitting face covering – read more about looking after yourself during the winter
- get your vaccines if offered to ensure you are fully protected
- follow the latest NHS guidance if you are feeling unwell – and know how to get the right care in the right place
- wear a face covering in indoor public places and on public transport
- socialise in well-ventilated spaces where possible
- wash your hands and clean surfaces regularly
- know where to get support for your mental health and money worries
Categories: Uncategorized
I was thinking about Bartholomew Barker’s poem ’90 Seconds to Midnight’….. https://bartbarkerpoet.com/2023/01/27/fraiku-90-seconds-to-midnight/ and thought – there’s another aspect to this. Covid, as a plague, would have taken out even more people that it did – bringing down human population numbers significantly. But, due to modern medical advancements and some governments being able to quickly bring in controls, though bad – overall it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
People then got fed up with behaving themselves and started to behave as though Covid isn’t there – even in China where, uncharacteristically, the population rebelled against authority – and so Covid cases went up again.
And – being a virus – it constantly mutates, and re-surges world-wide.
Same pattern – we dodge nuclear war – embark on wrecking the climate – make some attempts to rectify that – lose interest – head for nuclear war again. Admittedly, because a nut-case is in charge in Russia.
We are hit by a plague. We behave for a bit – we lose interest in behaving and…..where do we go from here, as a species?
As individuals, all we can do is take individual responsibility for doing what we can. Keep contact to a minimum – wear a mask. Avoid indoor gatherings with unknown people and un-necessary travel – we know what to do – but a vast majority of us aren’t doing it.
Where do we go from here?
“Where do we go from here?”
Interesting question. A question I am mulling over some days too.
Unfortunately, the answer might not be a pleasant one.
We are a selfish species, driven by the very same archaic instincts we claim to have overcome and which would make us different to most animals. When watching the news… I fail to see that we are in any way different. Fighting over territories, resources, power… predatory to say the least.
Also, there are many nutcases in charge of governments and corporations. Traits of a psychopath are often confounded with successful leadership. All over the world in many countries. We do not have to look far.
For me the extraordinary way we approached the pandemic – and still deal with it – was a turning point. It was not only that we lost interest in behaving reasonably, it is also the lacking preparedness for what other challenges lie ahead. Personally, I haven’t lost interest… but I may have lost hope.
We’ll have to deal with the health, social, economic and even environmental burden of this pandemic for years to come, ignore that there are already more in the pipeline, we don’t get a grip on the issues associated with a warming climate and when I think about the escalation potential of current conflict(s) and the risks for “errors of judgement” with far more grave consequences than we currently realistically acknowledge… then I do not feel optimistic.