Caithness health campaigner warns Covid has 'not gone away' after hospital ward is closed to new admissions
The chairman of Caithness Health Action Team has warned that Covid-19 has "not gone away" after a ward at Caithness General Hospital was closed to new admissions because of the number of patients testing positive for the virus.
Ron Gunn said: "Covid is still here and we have to be careful.
"It has obviously not gone away. I imagine it will be here forever – it will still be kicking about, different variants of it."
He was speaking after NHS Highland confirmed this week that Caithness General Hospital's Bignold ward has been closed to new admissions. The health board said it had started to see a rise in positive numbers in the region following a long spell when cases were declining.
Mr Gunn added: “When it goes into the hospital, that obviously has quite a big knock-on effect for everybody.
“All the experts say the vaccine is the best weapon we have against it.”
A spokesperson for NHS Highland said on Monday: "Bignold ward at Caithness General Hospital has seen a number of patients testing positive for Covid-19.
"All infection control precautions are in place and patient care on the ward is continuing as normal. The ward has been closed to new admissions and patient visiting is essential only but this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
"Thankfully a smaller percentage of people are becoming seriously ill with Covid-19 – this is thanks in large part to the vaccination programme. However, we are seeing an increase in the number of people in hospital who have been admitted for other reasons but then start displaying symptoms and test positive.
"We have also started to see outbreaks in hospitals resulting in wards being closed to admissions, with patients affected as well as staff.
"We are slowly seeing the world moving back to a new normal but Covid-19 has not gone away and is still a very real risk and can still have an impact on people and services.
"We are asking everyone to keep using Covid-19 sense and keep doing the things that protect you and your loved ones, particularly if you are visiting a healthcare or care home setting.
"This includes washing hands regularly, keeping areas ventilated, wearing a face covering when coming into a hospital setting and staying at home if you’re unwell with symptoms or have a fever."
Vaccine clinics in the north are listed on the NHS Highland website.
Last week the Scottish Government announced that over a million vaccines had been delivered to protect against the latest strains of flu and Covid in an effort to relieve pressure on the NHS over the winter.
Frontline healthcare staff and the country’s most vulnerable people have been vaccinated in the latest phase.
The next groups in line for their vaccines – over-65s and those at high risk – are receiving a scheduled appointment and those aged 50 to 64 will soon be invited to book a slot.
Anyone who has missed an appointment can reschedule through the NHS Inform online booking portal.
The Covid vaccine is being given at the same time as the flu jab where possible, and so far 94 per cent of those invited have had both at the same appointment.
Scotland's health secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Scotland remains steadfast in the effort to protect everyone – continuing the huge success of the vaccination programme since it was first rolled out in December 2020.
“Covid -19 has not gone away and I call on everyone to take up the offer of a booster as soon as their invitation arrives to protect themselves, their families and the NHS.”