Plea for continued caution

Argyll and Bute residents are being urged to take regular tests to help slow and eventually halt the current increase in Covid-19 cases.

Councillor Kieron Green, Argyll and Bute Council’s policy lead on health and social care, spoke at a virtual meeting of the council last Thursday, June 24, as the area reached almost 200 cases per 100,000 residents, according to Public Health Scotland figures.

He said he understood the area had the second highest proportion of residents taking tests across Scotland.

NHS Highland said last Thursday there had been ‘a significant increase’ in Covid-19 cases across the area. Of the 32 local authorities in Scotland, Argyll and Bute was sitting tenth in the highest rates of the virus across Scotland.

Dr Tim Allison, NHS Highland’s director of public health, said: ‘As well as an increase in cases, we are seeing an increasing number of outbreaks in our communities.

‘Given the rapid rise in cases, the contact tracing team is working extremely hard but it is taking a little bit longer to make contact.

‘Please bear with them and continue to isolate and the team will be in touch as soon as they can.

‘The vaccination programme is incredibly successful but not everyone has been vaccinated and it is vital we are cautious until everyone has had an opportunity to be vaccinated.’

Typical symptoms of Covid-19 are a new continuous cough, a high temperature or fever and a loss of or change in normal taste or smell, but symptoms can include headache, sore muscles and joints, tiredness, sore throat, coldlike symptoms and diarrhoea and vomiting.

Anyone who becomes unwell should isolate immediately and seek a PCR test which can be booked through NHS Inform online or by calling 0800 028 2816.