Measures stepped up to combat threat
Fourth person inTayside region tests positive
Strict precautionary measures are being enforced throughout Perth and Kinross in an attempt to combat the threat of the coronavirus.
It comes after first minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday recommended that mass gatherings of 500 or more be banned from next week as the country sets itself to move from the ‘contain’ phase to ‘delay.
The news comes as a fourth person in Tayside tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.
Care homes throughout the region have already placed restrictions on visitors, with leisure facilities, schools, large events and colleges all enforcing preventative action plans against COVID-19.
Perth-based Balhousie Care Group has stopped its 900 residents from receiving nonessential visitors in a move to protect them from coronavirus.
Detailed in a letter issued to all visitors on Wednesday, the group said it will only allow “essential visits”, such as medical check-ups, to its 10 homes in Perth and Kinross.
The company has given its residents iPads to maintain close contact with friends and family.
A spokeswoman stressed there are no cases of coronavirus among its residents or staff members and the move was a preventative measure.
Barchester Healthcare’s Ochil Care Home, based in Perth, has also urged family members not to visit loved ones unless it was essential.
A spokesperson for Barchester Healthcare, told the PA: “In aligning with this we have asked that friends and relatives minimise their visits to residents in our homes.
“Some of our residents are vulnerable to the virus and we therefore need to work together to limit the risk.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said its care homes, will be “following all public health guidance and advising staff and residents in our two residential care homes to do the same.”
They added: “The health and wellbeing of people in Perth and Kinross is of the utmost importance to us.
“National public health advice and guidance on coronavirus for non-healthcare settings was issued by Health Protection Scotland on March 4, 2020 and is available online at https://hps.scot.nhs.uk/ web-resources-container/ covid-19-guidance-for-nonhealthcare-settings/”
A council spokesperson added that public schools in the region have “resilience procedures” in place to
“deal with the impact of a communicable disease such as the coronavirus”.
“We are actively working with colleagues locally and nationally to ensure we can be well prepared to address any impact which may arise,” they added.
“For schools, we are following the national public health guidance and advice regarding coronavirus/ COVID-19 and have communicated with schools and with parents and carers in line with that advice and guidance.”
Perth-based Live Active Leisure, which runs Perth Leisure Pool, Bell’s Sport Centre and Dewars Centre among many others, will follow a similar strategy.
A spokesperson said the health and wellbeing of customers and staff is its “top priority” and it is closely monitoring the advice from the NHS and the government.
Its venues and services will, for the time being, operate as normal, and that any updates or developments will be made in the venues, on social media and the LAL website.
Paul Cromwell, chief executive officer for Live Active Leisure, commented: “We ask that our customers and staff help us to maintain a safe and healthy environment by following the latest guidance in line with the government’s communications and observing the notices in and around our venues”.
Large events with hundreds of visitors, such as Perth Beer Festival, could be at risk if the first minister’s recommendation of mass gatherings is taken up.
Organisers revealed that they are planning to go head with the event as planned but will be implementing “extra measures”.
A spokesperson said: “We will implement extra measures to reduce risks based on the latest Health Protection Scotland guidance and keep a close eye on the latest information from PKC and the Scottish Government”.
In a bid to contain the outbreak NHS Tayside revealed yesterday it has started community home testing procedures on at-risk residents.
Professor Peter Stonebridge, NHS Tayside medical director, said: “We have well-rehearsed procedures in place to deal with the coronavirus, with these having been developed to deal with any such communicable virus.
“As with other health boards, NHS Tayside is currently carrying out testing in the community for those people who have been identified as being at risk of coronavirus (COVID-19).”