Covid cases rise as NHS warns public to play their part
An increase of positive cases of coronavirus on Arran, which is being seen across the country, has prompted NHS Ayrshire and Arran to remind members of the public to play their part in keeping everyone safe, and to make safer choices.
The plea comes after it was revealed that not a single area in Ayrshire is managing to suppress the virus and that 2,604 new cases were reported in the region in the last seven days, for the week ending Sunday September 5.
On Arran, Public Health Scotland lists Arran as having 10 new cases in a population of 4,537.
The island was previously listed as having the virus suppressed. NHS Ayrshire and Arran will not provide Arranonly figures.
Lynne McNiven, director of public health, said: ‘We knew that as restrictions were lifted and children returned to school, cases were likely to rise. However, the scale of the rise across Scotland is a concern.
‘So, we are reminding the public that, if we are to avoid the possibility of restrictions being imposed again, we must all play our part to slow down transmission.
‘The vaccine is the best tool to do this. So, make sure you get both doses of the vaccine when it is offered.
‘Everyone over the age of 16 can get the vaccine. Pop along to one of our drop-in clinics if you’ve missed your appointment.
‘But there are other things you can do – for example, wear a face covering in public places; meet outside when you can; wash your hands regularly; take regular tests even if you don’t have symptoms; and if you do have symptoms, self-isolate and take a PCR test.
‘Nobody wants to have any restrictions reimposed. But we know that if the cases continue to rise, this will put even more pressure on our healthcare system, with more people becoming seriously ill.
‘And so it is important that we all do our part and make safer choices.’
If anyone does test positive for coronavirus, NHS Ayrshire and Arran is encouraging people to use the secure online contact tracing form to list details of their close contacts when asked by Test and Protect.
Lynne McNiven added: ‘If you have tested positive, completing this form and providing details of your close contacts as quickly as possible, means that our contact tracing teams can work quickly to offer advice to those most at risk.
‘As cases rise across the country, it is vital that we try to stop that transmission. We need to ensure that those who need to isolate do so quickly, and that those who don’t need to isolate know how they can keep themselves and others safe.’
‘If we are to avoid the possibility of restrictions being imposed again, we must all play our part to slow down transmission’