NHS Highland health expert issues self-isolation reminder as coronavirus cases keep rising
NHS Highland is reminding everyone on the importance of self-isolating for those who have confirmed Covid-19 and those who are identified as close contacts.
The region's cumulative number of cases increased to 1026 when the latest figures were released yesterday.
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-19 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, an individual is confirmed as having Covid-19, they 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 coronavirus 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 experiencing symptoms such as new, continuous cough, fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste, or have been advised to by the local Health Protection team.
Dr Allison said: “We appreciate that there is local anxiety about Covid-19 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.”
