Mobile testing launched amid Covid-19 surge in Moray

Published: 07/05/2021 15:43

A mobile testing unit has arrived in Elgin as part of an effort to tackle escalating Covid-19 levels in the Moray region.

The unit is initially targeting pupils and teachers at Elgin Academy during school hours and will be used for members of the wider public during the weekend.

NHS Grampian’s divisional clinical director at Dr Gray’s Hospital, Jamie Hogg said: “We have seen 51 cases of Covid-19 within the school’s population – but there is no evidence of ongoing transmission in the school and we are not treating it as a single outbreak. It is therefore likely these individuals have picked-up the virus in the community, out with the school.

“In testing all pupils and teachers it gives us a fuller picture of who is infected in the community – we know Covid-19 is now becoming widespread across Moray. It is vital we get ahead of the virus, and widespread testing is our best chance to do that.

“Test positivity in Moray is at 3.2% - across Scotland that figure is close to just 1% - and the R-rate in Moray is at 1.8, so every person in Moray that becomes infected is, on average, passing it on to two other people.”

With an escalating number of cases in Moray, an incident management team is now overseeing efforts to bring the virus back under control. The region now has 79.3 cases per 100,000 – East Dunbartonshire has the second highest with 37.7, while neighbouring Aberdeenshire is at 10 and Highland 11.

Chief Education Officer, Vivienne Cross said: “Ultimately the mobile testing unit is at Elgin Academy to help protect the pupils, their families and the wider community.

“I’d urge all pupils and staff to get tested. With around one inf three cases asymptomatic it is vital we find those cases to protect others from catching the virus.

“Working alongside out colleagues from NHS Grampian to #ProtectMoray and bring the virus to heel in the region to protect our population, our ability to deliver education services and hopefully start to move, with the rest of the country, back to some sense of normality in the coming weeks – but we can only achieve that if we all act now.”

Elgin Academy’s head teacher, Kyle Scott added: “As a school our infection prevention control measures have worked and we are reassured by Public Health that there has not been spread within the academy.

“Despite that it is obviously circulating widely in the region’s population and that includes some of our pupils.

“While adherence to the guidelines inside the school has been excellent, we’d encourage pupils and their families to ensure they do so outside of our facility – not gathering in large numbers, wearing masks where appropriate and

“Not following the guidelines puts individuals' fellow pupils at risk, our staff and, if the situation escalates, potentially our ability to offer education in the school setting. It is vital we all stick to the guidelines whether at school or not and #ProtectMoray.”

Two of the first pupils at the school to be tested were Rory Stanley and Isla Hepburn.

S6 student Isla said: “For me it’s important to get tested and play my part in protecting my family, friends, fellow pupils, teachers and the wider population.

“The pandemic has obviously affected our ability to receive our education in the traditional way – and I think the vast majority of pupils are glad to be back and school and benefiting from face-to-face teaching.

“It is vital we all play our part #ProtectMoray and ensure that we aren’t held back as the rest of the country unlocks – or worse still the situation develops and we move backwards.”

NHS Grampian is continuing to ask anyone in Moray with any symptoms of illness, not just those of Covid-19 – including headaches, diarrhoea, sore throat, runny nose - to isolate and book a test immediately. People without symptoms are continuing to be asked to take up asymptomatic testing.

For the latest information on testing in Moray or to book a test visit www.moray.gov.uk/Covid19

Testing

Those with any of the symptoms listed below should book a test, via nhsinform.scot or call 0800 028 2816 if you cannot get online and must not attend asymptomatic testing sites.

Those with both classic and extended symptoms in Moray should immediately book a test via nhsinform.scot or call 0800 028 2816 if you cannot get online.

Extended symptoms include:

  • General weakness
  • Sore throat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Diarrhoea
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Runny nose
  • Dry or productive cough

When booking a test due to these symptoms, individuals should select the “My local council or health protection team has asked me to get a test” option. While the individual experiencing the symptoms should self-isolate until the test result is returned there is no need for the rest of the individual’s household to self-isolate.

Classic symptoms include:

  • Continuous cough
  • Fever
  • Loss of taste of smell

The individual and their whole household, including any extended or bubble members, should self-isolate immediately until the test results are returned.

NOTE

The figures stats were correct at the time of writing – they will be updated by PHS later today and can be viewed here - https://public.tableau.com/profile/phs.covid.19#!/vizhome/COVID-19DailyDashboard_15960160643010/Overview