Covid Cases In Highland Passes 900

30th October 2020

Similar to the rest of Scotland, and indeed the UK, the number of COVID cases in Highland, Argyll and Bute are increasing.

With the number of COVID cases across the whole of NHS Highland having now passed 900 since the start of the pandemic NHS Highland is reminding everyone on the importance of self-isolating for those who have confirmed COVID and those who are identified as close contacts.

Dr Tim Allison, NHS Highland's Director of Public Health, said: "We are seeing an increasing number of confirmed cases across the NHS Highland area and, whilst localised outbreaks of infection have been seen, it is mostly individual sporadic COVID cases or small clusters, such as in families that we are seeing at the moment.

“We are learning and improving our processes for dealing with these cases at every opportunity but I am also making an appeal to everyone to help us in fighting this virus."

The messages from Public Health and the Scottish Government ask that anyone with symptoms should self-isolate and book a test.

If, after testing, you are confirmed as having COVID you are asked to continue to self-isolate for 10 days as per the national guidance.

Anyone identified as a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID should also self-isolate for a period of 14 days, even if they get tested and it is negative, it is important that they self-isolate for those 14 days.

There is no need to get tested unless you have symptoms, such as new, continuous cough, fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste, or have been advised to by your local Health Protection team.

Dr Allison added: “We appreciate that there is local anxiety about COVID but we would appeal to everyone to follow the national guidance.

“Wear a face covering, avoid crowded areas, clean surfaces, keep a two metre distance and, what I would really like to stress, the importance of self-isolating and booking a test if you have symptoms.

“Everyone in Highland, Argyll and Bute has a role to play to keep the number of positive cases as low as possible.”