Additional Covid-19 testing units to be rolled out in Moray

Additional mobile testing units are to be rolled out in communities throughout Moray to bring the Covid-19 surge under control.

NHS Grampian said there are early signs of improvement of cases coming down but new outbreak were a cause for concern in Lossiemouth, Keith and Aberlour. 

Residents are being asked to stick with the rules and guidelines and are being warned against complacency. 

The health board accelerated the vaccine programme within the area and expect all adults over 18 to the offered their first dose by the end of this month. 

Deputy director of public health Chris Littlejohn said: “We’ve been so encouraged by the response from the community to testing that, at the moment, we’ve no plans to progress to door-to-door testing anywhere in Moray – if that changes we will ensure we communicate it to the community.  

"The number of people coming forward for testing has increased and that it was possible the outbreak in Elgin may be starting to plateau – but it could be a further two weeks before figures show real signs of returning to normal and we cannot afford for any complacency at this point.  

“Despite some positive signs over the last few days, the figures in Moray are still well ahead of the rest of the country. We are starting to see signs of outbreaks in other communities outside of Elgin, including in Keith, Lossiemouth and Aberlour.

“As a result we will be deploying extra mobile testing units to these locations and would ask local residents to come forward for testing and to help protect their family, friends, and Moray as a whole.

"Every person who gets tested is taking us a small step towards beating the virus and Level 2 restrictions.”  

Across the region, the number of tests in Moray have risen by 400% since the first surge in cases and many adults are keen to receive their vaccine with queues at vaccination centres being reported. 

Mr Littlejohn added: “What we have seen in Elgin and across Moray is a high number of people coming forward for testing and that, teamed with our expedited vaccine rollout in the region, is how we beat this surge in Moray. It helps us break the chains of infection,” he said.

“Despite a fourfold increase in the numbers being tested, the positivity rate has stayed broadly the same, which is encouraging and means the outbreak isn’t currently any worse than we already feared.  

“It’s very heartening to see so many people come forward, working with us and play their part in protecting Moray.

"To each and every person who has had a test so far ‘thank you’ and if you haven’t, please come forward and do so.”