Yell school affected by outbreak

Fresh details have emerged about a Covid-19 outbreak in Yell, with a staff member at Mid Yell Junior High School among those affected.

Around 20 people are self-isolating as a consequence of the outbreak.

NHS Shetland confirmed to The Shetland Times that the health board was dealing with an outbreak in Yell and that at a school was affected. The situation is being closely monitored by public health officials. 

The news comes after the health board warned about the risks of extended family mixing across Shetland. 

Earlier this week public health consultant Susan Laidlaw said: “While we understand it is difficult not to give someone you love a hug or a kiss, you are placing each other at risk if one of you unknowingly has the virus.”

More to follow.

Two further cases recorded

Two further coronavirus cases have been recorded today (Thursday 21st January).

The isles have now recorded 13 cases since Monday, and 129 since the 21st December.

NHS Shetland said the cases were linked to “extended family clusters”.

Public health consultant Susan Laidlaw warned the public about how infectious the virus was, and how it could touch anyone at any time.

“We should all be behaving as if we are Covid positive and keeping at least two metres away from others, washing our hands and avoiding crowded places,” she said.

She urged the public to work from home of possible.

All leisure centres to remain shut until mid-February

All of Shetland’s leisure centres will remain closed until mid-February at the earliest.

Shetland Recreational Trust (SRT) said they would review the current situation again on the 2nd February.

The decision had been made with “great regret”, chief executive Steven Laidlaw said, in line with the NHS Shetland “stay at home” message.

“Although the number of cases per day is not as high as it has been, there are still cases being reported and in order to protect the safety of staff and the public we must all try and stick to the rules,” he said.

“We will continue to offer online classes and ask the public to send in requests for different types of classes they would like to see.

“The situation will remain under review and the trust hopes to reopen the doors at its centres when it is safe to do so.”

Thousands hoped to receive Covid-19 jab each week following launch of three mass vaccination centres in Shetland

Health leaders in Shetland hope to be able to offer thousands of Covid-19 jabs every week after the launch of three new mass vaccination centres.

Special constable rewarded with long service medal

A Lerwick-based police officer has received a medal for his long service.

Special constable Euan Anderson was awarded the medal by councillor Alastair Cooper for ten years of service with Police Scotland.

Mr Anderson has also spent a great deal of time volunteering with Dogs Against Drugs, providing drugs awareness courses all around the isles.

Chief inspector Lindsay Tulloch paid tribute to Mr Anderson, saying he “could not speak highly enough” of both him and his Dogs Against Drugs colleague Michael Coutts.

“It is often said that Shetland is a safer place to live thanks to both special constables and their trusted dogs, and I could not agree more.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate special constable Anderson on his service to date.”

Jail term for man who behaved aggressively and had a knife

A man has been jailed for 10 months after he admitted behaving threateningly towards his partner.

Ellis Birnie, 26, whose address was given as Grampian Prison, admitted acting in an abusive manner at an address in Lerwick on 30th September.

Birnie shouted, swore and made threats.

He was later found in Commercial Street with an ornamental dagger.

Appearing via video-link at Lerwick Sheriff Court, Birnie was handed his prison term and told to abide by a two year non-harassment order.

A Crown motion for the knife to be forfeited was granted.

SIC notes petition calling for Viking Energy windfarm construction to be suspended and instructs for report to be produced

The SIC has noted a petition calling for work to be halted on the Viking Energy windfarm.

The petition, which had gathered more than 1,200 signatures, was submitted by campaign group Save Shetland for discussion at today’s (Wednesday) council meeting. 

It raised concerns  that the development was not being “independently monitored and scrutinised”. It called for all construction work to be stopped until concerns have been addressed.

The SIC’s political leader moved that the petition be noted and for a council officer to be instructed to provide a report for discussion at a future meeting. 

Viking Energy windfarm spokesman Aaron Priest said independent scrutiny of wind farm construction and related monitoring programmes was already in place.

He said it was the legal responsibility of the SIC’s planning service and the Scottish government, in consultation with statutory consultees such as Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

He said the scrutiny of construction is enshrined through existing Environmental Impact Assessment.