'Covid is in the community'– public health director warns people to be vigilant after three positive cases among Culloden pupils
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The public need to remain vigilant for covid, as it has been confirmed the virus is circulating in the Inverness community.
After a third Covid-19 case was confirmed at Culloden Academy, director of public health for NHS Highland said cases were now "close to home."
Director of Public Health Dr Tim Allison said: "I can appreciate the local anxiety of communities when they hear about confirmed cases of Covid–19, particularly when they are so close to home.
"While cases in the NHS Highland area are relatively low there is no doubt that Covid–19 is in the local community.
"Covid cases across the whole of NHS Highland have passed 1300 since the start of the pandemic.
"Whilst localised outbreaks of infection have been seen, it is mostly individual sporadic covid cases or small clusters, such as in families that we are seeing at the moment. "
He continued: "It is the responsibility of everyone to do what they can to keep themselves and each other safe.
"If you are unwell then you should isolate and if you have symptoms of covid please continue to self-isolate and book a test.
"If you are confirmed as having covid you need to self-isolate for 10 days as per the national guidance.
"For close contacts of positive cases you need to self-isolate for 14 days, even if you get tested and it is negative.
"It is important that you continue to self-isolate for that 14 day period.
"A negative test does not change the need to self-isolate if you are a close contact. "
Dr Allison explained: "One of the key contributors to transmission of infection is household mixing and we would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that different households should not socialise together in each other's homes.
"Similarly, if you are feeling unwell you should not attend school or work and you should isolate at home and seek a test if you develop Covid–19 symptoms. "
"I want to thank everyone for all their hard efforts as we continue to fight this virus," he said.
"Covid is still here and it is important that everyone continues to follow the national guidance to keep them and others safe. "
Dr Allison asked people to follow the five rules as outlined in the FACTS campaign.
Face coverings in enclosed spaces.
Avoid crowded places indoors or outdoors.
Clean your hands regularly and remember to clean hard surfaces that you might be touching.
Two metre physical distancing remains in place.
Self-isolate and book a test if you have any of the symptoms of Covid–19 - a cough, a temperature, or a loss of, or change in your sense of taste or smell .
He added: "Everyone in Highland has a role to play to keep the number of positive cases as low as possible to both ensure that transmission of infection is minimised to keep friends, families and communities safe but also to prevent the need for additional restrictions across Highland."
Read more news about covid at Culloden Academy.
Covid 'circulating in the community' says director of public health
Pupils in Inverness secondary school test positive for coronavirus
Senior pupil at Culloden Academy in Inverness tests positive for coronavirus
See daily covid updates here.
