Coronavirus in Scotland: Orkney cluster linked to fishing boat
- Published
NHS Orkney said members of the group had travelled to homes across the islands
Health authorities in Orkney say they are dealing with a cluster of five confirmed Covid-19 cases linked to a fishing boat.
NHS Orkney said positive tests had been detected in a group of people who worked together and then travelled to various homes on the outer islands.
The fishing boat had sailed to Orkney from Peterhead. It had also been to Scrabster in Caithness.
Highland, Grampian and Orkney health boards are now tracing contacts.
The NHS Orkney chief executive described the situation as a "significant number of cases in a small island community".
The board said earlier it was examining links with the 177 cases that are part of a cluster in Aberdeen.
Director of Public Health Louise Wilson said: "Following their identification, the individuals have been asked to self-isolate and we are tracing all of their contacts, who will also be asked to self-isolate as a precaution.
"All of the positive cases have mild symptoms."
She said a further update would be issued after the next meeting of the incident management team, adding: "We are taking all necessary steps to contain this outbreak but it is vital people follow the FACTS guidance to limit the spread of the virus."
'Guard against complacency'
Giving her daily briefing, the first minister confirmed three new cases had been confirmed in Orkney in the last 24 hours.
Nicola Sturgeon said anyone in the isles who developed symptoms of coronavirus should "isolate immediately" and make arrangements for a test.
"While Orkney had a number of cases at the beginning of the pandemic it has had very few since, so I would urge everyone on the islands to guard against complacency," she said.
The first minister said the outbreak - and others including Aberdeen - "should not cause undue alarm" as clusters of this kind were "inevitable".
Asked about the possibility of a local lockdown in Orkney, she added: "I don't want to get too far ahead of where we are."
'Real threat'
The first minister added Orkney and other island communities "have gone a long period of time without cases, and human nature being what human nature is that may understandably lead to a sense of feeling on the islands that the threat has gone, the risk has gone, and therefore maybe people are not being as assiduous in complying with all the rules."
Orkney's last confirmed cases of the virus were reported on 15 June.
Orkney's MSP, Liam McArthur, said the spike in new cases was "deeply worrying" and a reminder the virus remained a "real threat".
"We all have a responsibility to act with the upmost care to keep ourselves and our community safe," he added.
NHS Orkney said it was taking the cluster "extremely seriously" and working with mainland health boards, port authorities and ferry operators to try to limit the outbreak.
