Sixth positive case in Covid-19 cluster Stringent measures taken by sports club and pub
A sixth positive Covid-19 case has been confirmed by NHS Forth Valley as being linked to an ongoing cluster.
The latest confirmed case is a household contact of one of the original five cases, which were first reported on Tuesday.
The initial statement from health board officials revealed Test and Protect staff had already identified a list of close contacts related to the cluster.
Contact tracing also identified five premises across the region with links to those who had tested positive - although the risk to the general public for anyone who has visited these businesses was said to be “extremely low”.
Three of the affected venues were in Dunblane - Tesco, the Village Inn and GS Meldrum newsagents - as well as Bridge of Allan Sports Club and Mcdonald’s in Stirling’s Drip Road.
Bridge of Allan Sports Club president Stewart Penman has detailed to the Observer the guidance they have followed since re-opening their doors and offered reassurance over a junior tennis tournament that took place last weekend.
Mr Penman said: “At Bridge of Allan Sports Club, we have followed LTA guidelines since resumption of tennis; we have followed Scottish Government hospitality and retail guidance along with Sportscotland since we decided it was the right time to re-open the club house; we are following Scottishsquash guidance now that squash has restarted; we have issued our members with club specific guidance and the committee and staff do their best to ensure all visitors to the club are aware of and follow the guidelines.
“Regarding the specific Covid cluster identified in Forth Valley with which Bridge of Allan Sports club has been linked; we have no further information beyond what has been posted publicly.
“We were told that all close contacts have already been traced and contacted by NHS Test and Protect team and that there is no further action required from the club at this time.
“All sport and facilities used at Bridge of Allan Sports Club can continue safely following the guidelines and risk assessments that we have put in place.
“The tournament that ran over the weekend is not connected in any way to this cluster and was run with LTA approval, following LTA and club guidelines.”
Another of the identified venues, the Village Inn in Dunblane, was also quick to highlight its own efforts to keep customers and staff safe via a statement on their Facebook page.
Their statement reads: “We were contacted by NHS Forth Valley late Sunday (August 30) to say that someone who had been in our premises a week before was showing signs of Covid-19.
“Having worked with NHS Forth Valley and Environmental Health we are confident that the stringent track and trace/ cleaning procedures/excessive screening we have on the property and our strict in-house rules have kept our customers safe.
“[It is]very unfortunate that this has happened but we very proud of the containment measures we have in place to protect everyone.
“Two members of our staff have had to isolate as a precaution till this Saturday but are showing no signs of Covid. Again, we are very confident with the stringent measures in place to safeguard our staff.
“Having had two visits by environmental health we think that we have exemplary measures in place that have helped restrict the risk of any spread whilst in our pub.
“A deep clean of the building was still done despite the length of time since the person was in our premises.
“We can reassure customers that our premises is an example of how Covid procedures should work.”