Help us help you says Caring for People group

Local people are being urged to help protect front line services by heeding Scottish Government advice aimed at curbing COVID-19 transmission in the community, including minimising social contacts.

The call comes from Caring For People, a task force of local public sector and voluntary organisations including the Council, NHS Orkney and local support services charged with helping the Orkney community recover and build resilience in challenging times.

Chair of the group, Lynda Bradford, says small teams in Orkney means even one staff member needing to isolate can have a massive impact on teams and services being able to deliver vital care in the community, or to provide support to other agencies helping people in crisis.

“We’d echo the message from the OLEGC, the Local Emergency Coordination Group, this week in asking people to continue to do everything they can to protect the services that support you and your loved ones.”

Earlier this week OLEGC members stressed the importance of everyone paying heed to the latest restrictions announced by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, in this week’s address given the spread of the new highly transmissible COVID-19 variant, Omicron.

These include reducing social contacts outwith your household and being vigilant in regards to the mitigating measures that are known to work in curbing the transmission – socially distancing, face coverings, washing hands, hand sanitising, good ventilation and minimising contacts.

Lynda, who is also Head of Health and Community Care for Orkney Health and Care, added: “We should all remember the importance of being kind, to ourselves and to others. Many services and businesses - and people in general - are under multiple pressures and some have been for a very long time.

“Services are working hard to try and plan for all eventualities that Omicron looks likely to present over coming days, weeks and months and we’re asking local people to be mindful of the importance of that work and the changes they might be asked to accommodate, such as reduced face to face contact and delays.

“We all need to play a role in getting our community through this with minimal harm – and we can do this by following Scottish Government and public health guidance including regular self-testing, and minimising our social mixing as cases in Orkney continue.”

For latest information and advice on coronavirus prevention, testing and vaccination visit the NHS Orkney website.