Covid-19 cluster closes hospital ward

A FIFE hospital ward has been closed to new admissions after a cluster of Covid-19 cases was identified.

So far, eight members of staff and patients linked to Ward 2 at St Andrews Community Hospital have tested positive for the virus and are now self-isolating in line with national guidance.

The confirmed outbreak comes just days after an increase in cases at St Andrews University came to light, although there is no evidence of any connection between the university cases and the hospital cluster at this stage.

A spokesman for NHS Fife confirmed: “A range of mitigation measures have been put in place to reduce the opportunity for further spread of the virus, including enhanced cleaning measures over and above an already stringent cleaning regime.

“Anyone experiencing the well-established symptoms of Covid-19, regardless of how mild, should immediately selfisolate and arrange a test using the NHS inform website at nhsinform.scot or by calling 0800 028 2816.”

NHS Fife has previously expressed concern that rules – particularly around gatherings indoors – have not been followed in what it described as a “small number of instances over recent weeks”, and has suggested the sudden increase in positive cases is a direct result of this.

NHS Fife director of public health, Dona Milne, has urged everyone to continue to follow medical advice to stop the spread of the virus and heed restrictions in place.

“It is easy to think that as more and more people are vaccinated, and the number of Covid-19 cases reduces, that the virus is no longer a threat – that could not be further from the truth,” she explained.

“Covid-19 remains highly infectious.

“It is vital, therefore, that even as the restrictions ease, we continue to follow the control measures in place if we are to suppress the virus and prevent the numbers of people becoming unwell unnecessarily.”

DISGRACEFUL scenes marred a “Kill the Bill” protest in Bristol and saw a police station attacked, officers injured and a van set alight by violent thugs.

What started as a non-violent demonstration in the city centre against the government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill turned violent after hundreds of protesters marched from College Green to the New Bridewell police station.

Police Federation representatives said Avon and Somerset officers had suffered broken arms and ribs after being attacked by rioters.