Two more dead at virus-struck home

C OV I D -19 is being investigated as a possible cause of two further deaths at a Dundee care home.

Operator Hudson Health Care – which has been hit by negligence allegations – confirmed the latest deaths at Pitkerro Care Centre on Wednesday night.

The total number of fatalities at the home over the past week-and-ahalf now stands at 11, including a nurse who died from Covid-19.

However, the company stressed the most recent deaths were not necessarily caused by the virus and that a number of residents who died had tested negative for the disease.

A spokeswoman said: “Our overriding priority remains the health and safety of our residents and staff and, in turn, we ensured to declare an outbreak in the home at the earliest possible opportunity.

“We can confirm that 10 residents and one member of staff have sadly passed away over the past week-anda-half, of which three residents and the one staff member were tested positive for Covid-19.

“Whilst we are certain that the staff member’s passing was due to Covid-19, it remains unclear as to whether the passing of the three residents that tested positive was as a result of the virus. We would like to reiterate that whilst Covid-19 is a possible cause of death for some of the further seven cases, not all causes are known and we are continuing to work with GPs to assess this.

“A number of the residents that have sadly passed away have, in fact, been tested as negative.”

Three members of staff have claimed Hudson are failing to protect theirs and residents’ health during the crisis. The company has strenuously rejected those allegations, saying it adhered to national safety guidance “every step of the way”.

Latest figures show a total of 35 people have died of Covid-19 in care homes in Tayside.

Of those 18 are in Dundee, 13 in Angus and four in Perth and Kinross.

Pitkerro.