Waste Water Analysis
Published data to pinpoint fragments of coronavirus’ RNA in local waste water samples continues to show positive levels throughout Scotland.
Information from the area covered by Kirkwall’s waste water system was last published on 27th November 2023.
Vaccinations
Since 4 September 2023 (the current Winter 2023 vaccination programme) 1,498,953 influenza (Adult 18+), 472,470 influenza (Children 6 months to 17 years) and 1,254,934 COVID-19 vaccines were administered in Scotland.
Among adults aged 75 years and older, 80.6% were vaccinated against influenza and 80.1% were vaccinated against COVID-19 this winter. Public Health Scotland
Covid-19
The Number of acute COVID-19 admissions to hospital has decreased to 180 (week ending 3rd December 2023) from 189 the previous week.
Hospital occupancy for the same period has also decreased to 273 from 320 the week before.
National Records of Scotland has published its weekly deaths report.
The provisional total number of deaths registered in Scotland in week 48 of 2023 (27th November to 3rd December) was 1,198 (8 or 1% higher than the 5-year average). There were 34 deaths mentioning COVID-19.
Those figures in more detail:
Deaths involving Covid. There were 34 deaths involving Covid, Covid was the main cause in 25 of them.
- Age 15 – 44: 1 death, male
- Age 45 – 64: 5 deaths, 3 female, 2 male
- Age 65 – 74: 9 deaths, 2 female, 7 male
- Age 75 – 84: 13 deaths, 9 female, 4 male
- Age 85+ : 6 deaths, 3 female, 3 male
There were 5 deaths in Care Homes, 2 at Home/Non-Institutional Setting, 26 in Hospital, and 1 at an Other Institution.
For week 48 – 2020 to 2021
| Year | Deaths involving Covid | Deaths where Covid was the underlying Cause | Excess deaths |
| 2020 | 252 | 215 | 199 |
| 2021 | 91 | 67 | 203 |
| 2022 | 44 | 28 | 22 |
| 2023 | 34 | 25 | 8 |
There were 1,198 deaths due to all causes, an excess of 8 deaths taken over a 5 year average. There were excess deaths in Respiratory +18, Other Causes +27
Fiona Grahame