Care home worker has tested positive ...for a second time
ALL residents and staff at an island care home are being screened for Covid-19 after an employee who had already beaten the disease unexpectedly tested positive again.
It is understood that the employee at Home Farm in Portree, on Skye, originally contracted the coronavirus during the early stages of the outbreak.
The individual, whose identity has not been made public, tested negative twice before returning to work.
However, they have now been found to be positive for the virus a second time.
NHS Highland is in the process of retesting all residents and staff of the home as a precaution and the employee has been advised to remain at home in isolation.
The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, Ian Blackford, has called for the results of the screenings to be made known before a court hearing today concerning the home, where ten residents have died amid the coronavirus outbreak. Industry watchdog the Care Inspectorate is currently taking legal action against operator HC-one, which faces having its registration suspended amid concerns about its hygiene and staffing levels.
Police are also investigating the deaths of three women at the home.
Mr Blackford said: ‘It is important to stress that when someone does test positive having previously had Covid19 they may not necessarily be infectious.
‘Clearly, however, we cannot take any risks.
‘I have been in touch with NHS Highland this morning and I have asked that as a precaution all staff and residents at Home Farm are tested today and the results must be known ahead of the court hearing.’
NHS Highland confirmed that a member of staff at the island care home has retested positive for Covid-19.
However, it revealed that there are no other cases of confirmed infection in the local community or elsewhere on Skye. It said: ‘Evidence is emerging internationally about Covid-19 and it is now recognised that some people have prolonged positive swab results and others can have intermittent negative and positive results over many weeks.
‘An ongoing positive result does not therefore mean they are still infectious or that they pose a risk to others. This is the most likely scenario here.
‘Nonetheless, and as a precaution, this person has been advised to remain at home and in isolation.’
The health board added: ‘Their close contacts are being followed up by the contact tracing process and will be given the standard advice regarding isolation and effective hygiene.
‘In addition, and as a further precaution, NHS Highland is in the process of retesting all staff and residents of the care home.
‘We will inform all residents, staff and relatives of the results as soon as they are available.’
A spokesman for the home said that there had been no new Covid cases at Home Farm for 33 days before the positive screening result on Sunday.
He said: ‘We have been assured by public health experts that the positive test returned recently from a Home Farm colleague is likely as a result of the original infection and not due to a reinfection.
‘This means that the risk of transmission from this person is very minimal.
‘However, we are of course working closely with our local health and care partners and are taking all appropriate steps to respond to this.’
The spokesman added: ‘Testing is being made available to everyone who has entered the home recently and will be completed as a matter of urgency.
‘Home Farm has had the highest standards of infection control over recent weeks, working in partnership with and overseen by colleagues from the NHS and we are confident we have done all we can to support this home in its recovery.’
‘We cannot take any risks’