North East public asked for help with contact tracing
NHS Grampian say they need public support with "the significant - and ongoing - incrtease in confirmed Covid-19 cases"
NHS Grampian is urging people who test positive for Covid to complete the details of their contacts using the online form provided to them with their test results.
The significant – and ongoing – increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 is placing contact tracing teams under growing pressure.
In addition, they must self-isolate in line with Scottish Government guidance.
Chris Littlejohn, deputy Director of Public Health, said: “The sheer number of cases we are seeing at present has led to a dramatic increase in the workload of our Test & Protect teams. Regrettably, this means we are not currently in position to contact trace every positive test that comes into the system.
"We are prioritising those individuals most at risk from COVID-19 for telephone calls, those at lower risk will receive a text message with further guidance. If you don’t complete the form, supplied with your positive result, our teams will have to call you. Identifying your own contacts – making sure to include those people you live with – allows our team to concentrate on the more complex cases.
“I do not want people to think this diminishes the importance of identifying and managing the virus. This is a sensible and practical approach to managing the huge volume of cases being seen across the country.
“If you do test positive for COVID-19, you must follow the guidance and isolate properly. Self-isolation means 10 days at home, with no contact with anyone outside your household. You must not leave your home for any reason. All the latest detail on what self-isolation involves is available on the Scottish Government website. Support is available to help you do this; you can contact the Grampian Coronavirus Assistance Hub on 0808 196 3384 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) or via their website – www.gcah.org.uk. If you live in Aberdeen City, you should call 0800 0304 713.
“I cannot emphasise enough the importance of self-isolation if you test positive and – crucially – staying away from family or friends who are older or have long term conditions which make them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, even if they have been fully vaccinated.
“Around 1 in 5 of the confirmed cases we are seeing presently are in people who have had both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. This is in line with all the evidence to date about the effectiveness of the vaccines. While vaccines offer vital protection, no jab is 100% fool-proof, which is why we still need people to exercise caution.
“Finally – and despite the pressure on our teams – we need people to keep testing. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you must arrange a PCR test. If you don’t have symptoms, I would encourage you to order a Lateral Flow Device test kit. One in three people with COVID-19 don’t have symptoms, so regular testing is vital to protect yourself and your family and friends. Test kits can be delivered to your home or collected from a local participating pharmacy. All the information you need on testing can be found on the NHS Grampian COVID-19 webpages or you can call the testing helpline on 01224 558494.”