UNDER new guidance from the Scottish Government , anyone visiting friends or family in hospital should have tested negative for COVID-19 before arriving.   The new highly-transmissible Omicron variant of COVID is spreading fast, and hospital inpatients are among the most vulnerable. In response to this situation, national directions call for all visitors to have […]

‘TEST, test test’ is the call being made, as the region anticipates growing numbers of COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant.Numbers of new COVID-19 cases actually dipped last week, from 609 to 562, but it is expected that this is a temporary lull and that the region will very quickly follow the rest of

STUDENTS returning home to Dumfries and Galloway should test themselves for COVID-19 – to avoid infecting family members over Christmas.With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading rapidly, there is now a real danger of students unknowingly bringing home an infection– and passing it on to their families and friends, including any elderly or vulnerable people

A MASSIVE acceleration of the COVID-19 booster programme is now underway in the region – in response to the Omicron variant which is rapidly increasing across the UK.It means that, from today, anyone aged 30 and above can now sign up to receive their booster once at least 12 weeks past their second jag by

THE FIRST suspected cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant have now been recorded in Dumfries and Galloway.Fewer than five cases have been identified.However, the Omicron variant is known to be more transmissible than the Delta variant, and omicron case numbers are expected to rapidly increase.Director of Public Health Valerie White said: “Unfortunately, it was only

YOUNG people aged 16 to 17 will not receive their second COVID-19 vaccination in school, and instead need to book themselves in using the new national portal. That is the message as part of national moves to the self-appointing system which is also asking people aged 40 and above, unpaid Carers and household contacts of

CASES of COVID-19 have dropped significantly in Dumfries and Galloway – but just as concerns emerge around the possible effects of a new coronavirus variant. In the week ending Sunday December 21 there were 582 new cases – down from 795 the week before. A significant drop was also recorded in the number of close

A BID to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations as quickly as possible in the face of the Omicron variant means everyone eligible should book their booster now. As the dangers posed by the new variant continue to be assessed, everyone aged 40 and above, unpaid Carers and those who are household contacts of people who are immune-suppressed

CASES of COVID-19 remain high in Dumfries and Galloway – but with no further increase in numbers last week.  A total of 795 new cases of the coronavirus was recorded in the region in the week ending Sunday November 21, down 17 from the 812 recorded the week before.  Consultant in Public Health Medicine Dr