WESTERN ISLES COVID-19 TEST RESULTS
NHS Western Isles have confirmed that an individual in the Western Isles received a ‘false positive’ test result last week.
Essentially, an individual received positive results from a mainland laboratory, which was re-tested through the NHS Western Isles laboratory and was confirmed negative.
The mainland laboratory system was designed to provide rapid results for a large number of screening tests. Where a result is a ‘weak positive’ in someone without risk factors for exposure to COVID-19, a confirmatory test is recommended.
The confirmatory test that is used by NHS Western Isles in the local laboratory is considered to be the ‘gold standard’ in testing for Covid-19 and is used as the system to ‘retest’ as necessary. Where this test is negative, the mainland laboratory test is regarded as a ‘false positive’.
This is the third ‘false positive’ test result reported for the Western Isles, where confirmatory tests have shown that COVID-19 was not detected. NHS Western Isles said they wish to reassure local communities that public health risk assess each result and all such tests are thoroughly investigated.
Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Monday 21st September 2020
CNES SPORTS FACILITIES APP DOWNLOADED OVER 400 TIMES
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Sport Facilities App has been downloaded more than 400 times since its release.
The app, available by searching “CnES - Sport Facilities” on Google Play or the Apple App Store can be downloaded for free to your phone.
Customers can book activities directly from the app, as well as find out all the latest reopening information as it happens.
Tony Wade, Sports Facilities Services Manager said:
‘It has been great to see such an uptake in use of the app. The app will mean we can keep all our customers up to date with facility news in real time, direct to their phone. All customers will need to do is enable ‘push notifications’ and they will get all our latest news, straight away.”
The App currently covers Ionad Spòrs Leòdhais but each of the other three Comhairle sports facilities will have a section added in the coming days.
PLEASE NOTE: You will need your membership number and a four digit PIN to make a booking - contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and they will be happy to give you all the details you need.
Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Tuesday 15th September 2020
MSP’S CONCERN OVER HIAL’S AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has submitted a response to the retrospective Islands Communities Impact Assessment concerning HIAL’s Air Traffic Management Strategy (ATMS).
The programme would see islands-based air traffic control officers relocated to a central surveillance centre in Inverness and Benbecula Airport downgraded to an Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFAIS). The strategy was approved in 2018. The impact assessment, which was required by the Scottish Government in spirit of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, is being undertaken by Reference Economic Consultants.
Commenting on the consultations, Alasdair Allan MSP said:
‘Over the past year, I have raised the anxieties of constituents that the strategy will have a negative impact on islands communities with both HIAL and the Scottish Government.
‘The removal of these jobs will have a severe direct impact on the local economy. At a time when the government is beginning to decentralise public sector jobs to the islands, this action by HIAL decision is regressive.
‘The development of air service delivery should ensure that the needs of the communities at the heart of policy. I hope that this first-ever impact assessment under the Islands Act will mitigate the negative impacts which ATMS may cause.’
Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Monday 14th September 2020
E-SGOIL NATIONAL OFFER FOR SCOTLAND GOES LIVE
E-Sgoil the Comhairle’s online Learning Centre, is offering young people across Scotland, access to a national, on-line education resource.
This new service will provide opportunities to participate in an extensive series of live early-evening study support webinar lessons, from their own homes
Pupils will benefit from specialist teacher input during the live, real-time webinar lessons and can access subject specific resources in advance of the webinar lessons
e-Sgoil Study Support webinar lessons are scheduled to run for a period of eight weeks in the first instance and employ a ‘flipped learning’ approach, where participants undertake prior learning using supplied resources before attending a real-time 45-minute webinar, hosted in Glow.
The following courses are on offer: Business Management, Chemistry, Computing Science, English, French, Gaelic, History, Mandarin, Maths, Music, Physics, RMPS and Spanish. Digital study skills lessons are also offered under the new Study Support scheme.
Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Tuesday 1st September 2020
