Covid-19 infections in the Highlands may have peaked, leading medic claims
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The Highlands has probably passed the peak of coronavirus infections, a doctor has said, while also warning the impact on services will continue to be felt.
NHS Highland director of public health Dr Tim Allison made the claim as the health board also issued a stricter direction over face coverings and confirmed that the army is helping it identify sites for dedicated vaccination centres.
In a paper prepared for an NHS Highland board meeting due to be held on Tuesday, Dr Allison said that, while autumn rates of infection were relatively low, there was a “considerable upsurge” between late December and early January, especially around the inner Moray Firth area, with the daily number of positive cases rising more than five-fold.
“This rise was likely to be due to a combination of factors, including social mixing before Christmas and emergence of the new Covid variant,” he said.
“The number of positive cases appears to have peaked and to be decreasing slowly, but effects on health and social care services continue for some time after a fall in community diagnoses.”
This week, NHS Highland said it now required all staff, patients and visitors at its premises to wear specific Fluid Resistant Surgical Masks (FRSM) rather than more general face coverings. It will make these available for use.
A spokeswoman has also confirmed that it is working with both the Scottish Government and army on progressing its Covid-19 vaccination programme.
“A number of sites are being considered and assessed for use [as dedicated vaccination centres] but no decisions have been made yet,” she said.
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