Covid Scotland: Lothian care homes largely untouched by Delta variant

Care homes in Lothian, hit hard it in the earlier stages of the Covid pandemic, have been largely untouched by the Delta variant, health officials say.

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NHS Lothian nursing director Alex McMahon told health board members there had been “significant” uptake of the vaccine among care home residents and also “impressive” uptake among staff which, he said, had initially been “an area of anxiety”.

Professor McMahon said both staff and residents also underwent constant testing.

Vaccine uptake among care home residents has been "impressive"

On the Delta variant, he said: "We have seen a small number of homes with outbreaks and where they have had one it has been limited to a few staff and it has not spread throughout the home.

“And of the 23,000 visitors that have gone to care homes since restrictions were lifted only three have test positive, so there is huge compliance taking place. I think people recognise the desire to want to go and visit their loved one and are absolutely adhering to the rules.”

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