Moray “may not drop to level two” as Covid-19 cases top 93 per 100,000
Published: 10/05/2021 16:15Public Health bosses have warned Moray may be unlikely to follow the rest of Scotland into level two later this month, as cases of Covid-19 in the region remain the highest in the county.
A final decision rests with the Scottish Government, but cases per 100,000 in Moray are at 93.9, while neighbouring Highland and Aberdeenshire are seeing just 7.63 and 8.42. The region has more than double the case rate of second-placed Glasgow which has 48.3. NHS Grampian said it had seen recent hospital admissions from the local population, including younger people, under 50 years of age.
NHS Grampian’s deputy director of public health, Chris Littlejohn said: “The situation remains of great concern and according to previous Scottish Government thresholds, it’s entirely possible that Moray won’t move into level two. We have been delighted with the community response to our request for increased testing, and we are asking for that to continue as well as everyone’s continuing compliance with the regulations and rules.
“If the community continues to do the right things, level two won’t be far away. We are pleased to say there has been enormous interest in the accelerated vaccination program for Moray. Our team is working its way through calls and queries as quickly as they can; we would ask people to be patient with us and, wherever possible, make every effort to attend the appointment made for them.
“We’ve also seen many people take up the enhanced testing offers – finding the virus and getting those with it to isolate, even if asymptomatic, really is the way we beat it and get Moray back on a level-footing with the rest of the country.
“The impact of being left behind could be quite significant. It will be painful and understandably it will be upsetting for many, but with the extra vaccinations, testing and people sticking by the guidelines Moray will very soon be heading in the right direction and I’d thank each and every person who is playing their part in protecting Moray.
“Please stay patient, we need people to continue to do the right thing and stick with the guidelines. Things aren’t going to improve overnight, there is a lag between exposure, incubation and symptoms, but we hope that all of these measures will result in an improving picture in the next 10-14 days.
“We have five major measures to help bring an outbreak like this under control. These include case finding through testing, contact tracing and managing clusters of cases, vaccination, population restrictions (currently Level 3), and clear communication with the public about these.
“Be assured, we are working flat out to do everything we can to prevent further people becoming infected and sick, but it requires a continuing collective effort by everyone. I am grateful to everyone involved in getting these messages out to everyone in the community.
“We continue to have enhanced the availability of testing in Moray. We are urging everyone to #ProtectMoray and get tested even if they have no symptoms, through asymptomatic testing sites or lateral flow kits ordered online. We have deployed an additional mobile testing unit to increase access to ‘PCR’ testing for those with covid symptoms, and we have gone further by asking anyone with ‘extended’ symptoms to seek a PCR test. We are looking into the possibility of door-to-door testing in particular ‘hot-spots’ if the situation continues to worsen.
“We have an experienced and tireless contact tracing service, helping to identify and isolate exposed people before they have a chance to become infectious. Covid-19 spreads through clusters, and sustained community transmission involves a growing number of these, some small and some large and complex. As a result of the past year, we now have experienced teams with processes to investigate and manage clusters as early as possible, whether in workplaces, schools or care homes.
“We have accelerated the population vaccination program. It takes at least two weeks after vaccination for protection to develop, and protection is not 100%. But when a very high proportion of the population have been vaccinated this gives additional population protection as well as individual protection.
“The current level 3 population restrictions continue to limit population mixing, especially indoors. It remains vital that people continue to comply with these.”
Testing for Moray residents
Asymptomatic people are encouraged to take regular ‘lateral flow device’ tests which give a result within half an hour. Positive results require immediate isolation. Negative results do not mean the person is not infected and standard precautions should still be followed. Test kits can be ordered for free postal delivery at https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests. Testing is available without booking at the sites listed at www.moray.gov.uk/covid19.
Those with ‘classic’ symptoms can book a PCR test via www.nhsinform.scot or by calling 0800 028 2816 if online access is unavailable. Testing can occur at a fixed or mobile testing site or via free postal kits. Those with symptoms must not attend asymptomatic testing sites.
Those with ‘extended’ symptoms in Moray should book a test online using the “my health protection team has asked me to get a test” option or by calling NHS Grampian on 01224 558 494. 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.
Extended symptoms include:
- General weakness
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Diarrhoea
- Headache
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Runny nose
- Dry or productive cough