• Orkney's Balfour Hospital - image by Colin Keldie

Health advice

Safe safe in Orkney by following the latest health guidance - updated 21/12/20

Make sure you and the local community can stay safe and healthy when you're visiting Orkney.

Orkney is following Scottish Government guidance to help stop the threat of COVID-19 in the islands.

If you or a family member feel unwell with a new continuous cough OR fever OR loss of/change in sense of smell or taste which started within the last five days, you should notify your accommodation provider and book a test via NHS Inform or by phoning 0800 028 2816. In line with Test and Protect, if you have symptoms you should self-isolate for at least ten days, and everyone in your party should isolate for 14 days.

If your test is negative, everyone can end isolation. If it is positive, everyone should continue to isolate, and the NHS Test and Protect team will be in touch to start contact tracing.

Those contacted through the Test and Protect programme will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. If guests who are isolating can travel home safely to isolate, avoiding the use of public transport, they should do so. If this is not possible, guests are expected to remain in their accommodation or make alternative arrangements and are expected to be able to cover any additional costs.

In the event that this is not possible, the guest should discuss this with the NHS Test and Protect team. The guest may be signposted to the National Assistance Helpline on 0800 111 4000 if they need help to isolate and cannot arrange it themselves or through friends and family.

After the required period of self-isolation, guests and anyone else in their party who has been affected can then return to their main place of residence.

If you are unsure or your symptoms worsen please call NHS24 on 111 for advice or guidance or visit the NHS Inform website.

If you have a medical emergency call 999 and tell them you have COVID-19 symptoms.

NHS Orkney has a direct phone line to book a COVID-19 test. Call to book a test on 01856 888 211 between 0800-1800 seven days a week.

Face coverings must be worn in all shops, with exemptions for young children and people with certain health conditions.

Please ensure you maintain cough etiquette by coughing into a tissue and disposing of it safely.

Maintain physical distancing, following the latest guidance from the Scottish Government.

Wash your hands frequently, and use hand sanitiser where possible.

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