Council trio self-isolate after signs of sickness
Meetings are suspended
Three Perth and Kinross councillors are self-isolating after displaying COVID-19 symptoms over the past few days.
Perth and Kinross Council yesterday (Monday, March 16) took the decision to suspend all non-essential meetings.
All three SNP councillors took ill late last week having all attended a group meeting last Monday.
SNP leader, Cllr Grant Laing, is currently bedridden with a fever and a bad cough.
SNP colleagues, Cllr Beth Pover and Cllr Richard Watters are also self-isolating having developed symptoms late last week.
Cllr Grant Laing first developed an irritating cough, sore head and other aches and pains last Thursday.
He spoke to the PA over the phone from his sickbed, saying: “It has got worse over the weekend.”
The councillor suspects he picked up the infection doing council business but, much to his frustration, he and his colleagues have not been tested for COVID-19.
The advice now is for anyone with symptoms simply to self-isolate for seven days.
However, with a reported two to 14-day incubation period, councillors may not even be aware they are infectious which concerns Cllr Laing.
Between coughs, he said: “As councillors we are always out and about meeting people.
“We could have a meeting, and in 14 days be spreading it across Perth and Kinross.”
Cllr Richard Watters is self-isolating with milder symptoms and was feeling better when the PA spoke to him on Monday.
His symptoms began with a rasping cough and fluctuating temperatures which went up and down intermittently.
He said: “On Friday I felt rough but Saturday and Sunday was worst.”
The councillor is now concerned because he visited his elderly parents earlier in the week before any symptoms appeared.
He said: “My dad already has respiratory issues.
“It’s impossible because it can be about five days before symptoms appear.”
Conservative council leader Murray Lyle told us he was concerned for the welfare of all his councillors.
He said: “My concern is that we have elected members who will fall into the vulnerable category.”
Several councillors are over 70 and many have underlying health conditions.
He told the PA the senior executive officers met on Monday (March 16) morning and had decided to “cancel all non-essential meetings.”
Meanwhile Cllr Tom McEwan, who works as a pharmacist for NHS Tayside, says continuing to hold council meetings “presents a potential health” risk.
The Blairgowrie and Glens councillor announced he is increasing his sessions at Ninewells Hospital with the support of his council SNP group, who will ensure his council duties are fulfilled.
Cllr McEwan is an advanced clinical pharmacist at Ninewells Medical Admission Unit and Medical High Dependency Unit.
He is working alongside medical staff to ensure patients currently diagnosed with or suspected of suffering from COVID-19 are prescribed the appropriate medicine for their condition.
As NHS demands increase, he has taken the decision to focus his energies there.
He said: “I want to thank my colleagues at the council for their support at this time and want to reassure my constituents I will still remain contactable by email and phone as always. I also feel that, at the moment, it would be appropriate for the council to suspend meetings and committees.
“When taking into account the number of council staff who are required to be present, in addition to the councillors, it presents a potential health risk.”
It has got worse over the weekend