Council workers’ Covid figure is now at 215 Postive tests tally is revealed

More than 200 Stirling Council workers have now tested positive for Covid-19 during the course of the pandemic, it has been revealed.

From March 2020 to July 31, 2021, there have been 215 employees who have had a positive test.

Of these 96 (45 per cent) have been in Schools and Learning, 46 (21 per cent) in Environment and Place, 29 (13 per cent) in Housing, 22 (10 per cent) in the Health and Social Care Partnership, eight (four per cent) in Children and Families, six (three per cent) in Communities and Performance, five (two per cent) in Infrastructure, two (one per cent) in HR and one (one per cent) in Economic Development and Communities.

By July 31 this year 1474 employees had selfisolated due to personal or family symptoms or having been contacted through Test and Protect. Where possible, staff continued to work from home either fully or in some capacity during their period of isolation.

The figures were revealed to a recent meeting of the council’s health and safety panel.

In a report to panel members, officials said: “A small number of Covid cases have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under their RIDDOR reporting criteria for positive Covid-19 cases in the workplace.

Health & Safety have been in consultation with the HSE around a number of other cases with all reporting actions taken by council complying with HSE reporting requirements.

“Covid positive cases for employees and pupils have slowed, with postive aspects of the Lateral Flow Tests in schools and being available to all nationally, together with the national immunisation programme.

“The virus remains and ongoing controls across council are being monitored.”

The officials also pointed out some advantages to current working arrangements.

They added: “Inury incidents reported are vastly reduced due to the pandemic, with many employees working from home.

“This will continue with the council following Scottish Government guidance, taking a sensible, cautious approach with regards any employee coming in to work within the office environment, with a 30 per cent building capacity being the current council position for occupancy levels.”

In June the Observer reported that almost 200 Stirling Council workers had tested positive for Covid-19 during the pandemic — with almost half of those with the virus within its education service, including schools.

Figures from March 2020 through to May 31 this year showed 188 employees had tested positive for coronavirus.

At that time, the numbers were: 89 (47 per cent) in Schools and Learning; 39 (21 per cent) in Environment and Place; 22 (12 per cent) in Housing; 20 (11 per cent) in HSCP (Health and Social Care Partnership); six (three per cent) in Communities and Performance; six (three per cent) in Children and Families; four (two per cent) in Infrastructure; one (0.5 per cent) in both HR and in Strategic Commissioning and Customer Development.

By the end of May 2021, a total of 1346 employees had self-isolated.