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THE NEW Covid vaccine recently approved for use in the UK will begin to be administered in Shetland from next week.
The first batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine, containing enough for 200 doses, arrived in the isles earlier this week.
Unlike the first Pfizer vaccine, it can be stored at regular fridge temperatures – meaning it is easier to transport.
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A spokesperson for NHS Shetland said not all staff working in local care homes have been vaccinated so far, although “we are offering appointments to all frontline care staff”.
NHS Shetland chief executive Michael Dickson added: “Care staff are often part-time and work varied shift patterns. We will be accommodating their needs so that all who are able to have the vaccine can get it soon.”
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FIVE more confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Shetland in the past 48 hours, according to the local health board.
This brings the number of cases linked to the current north mainland cluster to 89, and the overall total of cases recorded for Shetland since the start of the pandemic to 163.
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According to Scottish Government figures during the seven days from 29 December 2020 to 4 January 2021, Shetland recorded 53 new cases, which translates into a seven-day positive rate per 100,000-population of 231.2 cases, a similar infection rate recorded in some central belt areas.
Shetland continues to be under level three Covid-19 restrictions, while mainland Scotland has been put in to another lockdown.
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FOR THE first time in almost two weeks no new cases of Covid-19 were identified in Shetland during the last 24 hours.
The total number of confirmed cases in the current outbreak continues to stand at 72 with several hundred people still self-isolating.
Consultant in public health Dr Susan Laidlaw said the total of the current cluster would probably still rise as testing was ongoing.
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However, for the first time since before Christmas she was slightly more upbeat in analysing the figures.
“I am feeling cautiously optimistic and hoping that the impact of the Shetland community staying at home and not socialising is starting to show results,” she said.
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image captionThe outbreak is described as the most serious in Shetland since March
NHS Shetland has said it is cautiously optimistic after no new Covid-19 cases were identified in the past 24 hours.
The number of cases had previously risen daily but currently remains at 72.
Dr Susan Laidlaw, consultant in public health, said she was hoping the impact of the Shetland community staying at home and not socialising was starting to show results.
However, she said cases would probably still rise .
She said testing was still ongoing both locally and through the UK government scheme laboratory on the mainland.
This brings the current total number of cases in the current outbreak to 72.
NHS Shetlandâs consultant in public health Dr Susan Laidlaw said hopefully the community had kept itself safe and stayed at home for New Year which should have an impact on the infection rate.
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However, she said what remains concerning is that many of the positive cases are not presenting with symptoms, which means they have unknowingly moved around the community while infectious.
âWe are hearing people say that they have had a new cough but didn’t get a test because they didn’t think it was a ‘Covid’ cough,” Dr Laidlaw said.