Plea to public from health chief after 'a significant increase' in north Covid cases
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A HEALTH chief has urged communities across the Highlands to increase their efforts in the fight against the coronavirus after "a significant increase" in cases over the festive period.
Dr Ken Oates, NHS Highland public health consultant, made the plea after it was revealed there were more than 700 cases in the area since Christmas Eve. Caithness was one of the places showing a rise in the past two weeks.
Dr Oates wants people to follow national guidance on social distancing, self-isolation and mixing indoors.
He thanked the public for its support so far and said: "We recognise that 2020 was an extremely challenging year for everyone and that we all have made significant sacrifices to reduce the spread of Covid-19 cases as much as possible.
"Unfortunately, there has been a significant increase in case numbers across Highland in the last two weeks, particularly in Inverness, Beauly, Dingwall, Invergordon, Alness and Caithness.
"We believe that this is due to pre-Christmas socialising, combined with people mixing indoors over the festive period. This has led to many extended family clusters and we would once again encourage people not to mix with others outside your household, as this is driving up infection rates.
"Please adhere to the new national guidance issued earlier this week to stay at home. We appreciate how challenging this has been for many people. However, when the number of cases of Covid-19 rises in our communities, we inevitably also see an increase in positive cases in health care workers and care home staff. This has a detrimental effect on NHS services as well as the health and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable people in our communities."
He continued: "We must all take action to protect each other and the NHS across Highland, Argyll and Bute. Please continue to follow the national guidance on Covid-19 including isolating at home if you feel unwell in any way, and seeking a test.
"Covid-19 will spread rapidly if given the opportunity, especially with the new strain which spreads much more easily. We are asking that everyone thinks about the risks that are involved in increasing the number of people you come into contact with and to please follow the rules to help us in reducing the spread of the virus."
Dr Oates said the typical symptoms of the coronavirus are:
• a new continuous cough and/or
• a high temperature or fever
• a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
But he explained that people with the virus can have a wide range of symptoms including headache, sore muscles and joints, tiredness, sore throat and cold-like symptoms. "Anyone who becomes unwell should isolate immediately and seek a test," he added.
