REMAIN VIGILANT
First Minister warns Scots not to let their guard down after five businesses are linked to call centre virus outbreak
NICOLA Sturgeon has urged Scots to be “vigilant” after naming five businesses linked to a call centre Covid-19 outbreak.
The First Minister confirmed everyone at the Sitel building, near Motherwell, had been tested, and revealed 15 employees had tested positive. A further five people have been traced and confirmed as having the virus.
At her daily Covid-19 briefing, Sturgeon named five other businesses now being linked to the Sitel outbreak.
They are:
● Owen’s bar, Coatbridge
● Railway Tavern, Motherwell
● Merlin’s bar, Motherwell
● Costa Coffee, Carfin, Lanarkshire
● End clothing, Glasgow
Sturgeon asked anyone who has visited these businesses in the last week to remain cautious and if they feel unwell, they should self-isolate.
She said: “Environmental health officers have checked on those locations. They are satisfied that precautions such as protective equipment and cleaning were in place, and that the risk of transmission is therefore low.
“I would also ask people who might have attended those locations over the last week or so to be extra vigilant, to follow all guidance and to isolate and book a test if they have any symptoms.
“I’m saying this not because I think there is a real concern of transmission there, but simply as an added precaution.”
Earlier, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said something had “clearly gone badly wrong” with working arrangements at the call centre and that investigations were continuing to pinpoint the source of the outbreak.
But he added the central location of the office – which sits adjacent to the M8 motorway with staff living across the Central Belt – meant a local lockdown would not be possible
Swinney said: “There are a whole series of interventions that can be made.
“We have tested staff and have pursued all of the contacts.”
Last night, Merlins bar, in Motherwell, said: “We want to thank the First Minister, Nicola
Sturgeon, for mentioning us positively in her comments and also wish to reassure our customers that based upon our control measures – which were already in place before the potential trace – that we were, and still are, categorised as low risk of transmission.
“We continue our normal deep cleaning routines throughout each day in order to protect staff and customers.”
Owen’s bar said: “Owen’s was notified by the NHS as having a secondary link. Since then, we have followed the advice from the NHS, Environmental Health and the Scottish Government.
“You will be aware that we closed for a period of time for a deep clean. We then re-opened after full agreement with the Environmental Health authority and NHS, having fully satisfied all of there questions
Bosses at the Railway Tavern, in Motherwell, said: “After working hand in hand with Public Health Scotland and the Environmental Health agency, we have been given the green light to reopen this afternoon, through social distancing, wearing masks, sanitising and track trace we can all keep each other safe.”
Costa Coffee said: “Costa Coffee’s store in Carfin is currently closed following a team member testing positive for Covid-19.
“The team member, who was also working at the Sitel Track and Trace call centre, is now self-isolating.
“We are working to deep clean the store in order to safely re-open and in line with advice from NHS Test & Protect, we have asked three additional Costa team members to self-isolate for 14 days prior to returning to work.”
End Clothing said: “We’re complying with all Government guidelines and are fully Covid-19 compliant.
“We have been focused on achieving the highest standards of health and safety for our customers and team. We have subsequently been contacted by the Government incident management team who are very happy with our standards and procedures.”
Environmental health officers are satisfied precautions such as PPE were in place
FIRST MINISTER ON OUTBREAK