There are still concerning levels of Covid infection in Orkney and across Scotland as reported in the latest statistics from Public Health Scotland.
In Orkney the Number of acute COVID-19 admissions to hospital for the week ending 21st July is at 5, the previous week was 2. In Scotland there has been as slight decrease for the week ending 21st July at 378 from 470 the previous week.
| Health Board of Treatment | 7 July 24 | 14 July 24 | 21 July 24 |
| NHS Ayrshire and Arran | 42 | 30 | 32 |
| NHS Borders | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| NHS Dumfries and Galloway | 26 | 15 | 21 |
| NHS Fife | 13 | 21 | 16 |
| NHS Forth Valley | 34 | 26 | 16 |
| NHS Grampian | 31 | 29 | 33 |
| NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 149 | 157 | 89 |
| NHS Highland | 13 | 17 | 18 |
| NHS Lanarkshire | 45 | 60 | 39 |
| NHS Lothian | 75 | 63 | 63 |
| NHS Orkney | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| NHS Shetland | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| NHS Tayside | 39 | 37 | 38 |
| NHS Western Isles | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| Golden Jubilee National Hospital | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Scotland | 485 | 470 | 378 |
Hospital Occupancy in Scotland for the same period has decreased slightly to 549 from 636.
| Health Board of Treatment | 7 July 24 | 14 July 24 | 21 July 24 |
| NHS Ayrshire and Arran | 42 | 49 | 40 |
| NHS Borders | 7 | 18 | 27 |
| NHS Dumfries and Galloway | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| NHS Fife | 19 | 25 | 22 |
| NHS Forth Valley | 45 | 42 | 42 |
| NHS Grampian | 36 | 52 | 42 |
| NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 194 | 207 | 143 |
| NHS Highland | 33 | 30 | 32 |
| NHS Lanarkshire | 65 | 54 | 53 |
| NHS Lothian | 96 | 111 | 85 |
| NHS Orkney | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| NHS Shetland | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| NHS Tayside | 31 | 32 | 41 |
| NHS Western Isles | 16 | 10 | 10 |
| Golden Jubilee National Hospital | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Scotland | 593 | 636 | 549 |
Published figures (15th July 24) for fragments of coronavirus’ ribonucleic acid (RNA) in local waste water samples covered by the Kirkwall system show continued high positive levels.
Vaccination has protected many people from the worst effects of Covid, however, the provisional total number of deaths registered in Scotland in week 29 of 2024 (15th July to 19th July) recorded 50 deaths that mentioned COVID-19.
Deaths where Covid has been mentioned on the death certificate have been increasing in Scotland. In June the total number of Covid related deaths was 78. In July there were 49 (1July); 31 (8 July); and 50 (15 July) -there are still 2 periods to go for the month of July but that total so far is, 130.
On the week ending 8th July there was 1 Covid related death in Orkney. Most of the Covid related deaths have taken place in Hospital.
Covid was the main cause of death in 37 deaths (1 July); 23 (8th July); and 36 (15th July) – Total for those 3 periods, 96.
Fiona Grahame