Lockdown for Angus home after positive test.

Dorward House had been free of coronavirus for two months

A staff member has tested positive for Covid-19 at an Angus care home which had been coronavirus-free for the past two months.

Residents at Dorward House in Montrose will remain locked down in their own rooms after the latest development.

The care worker was symptomfree but registered positive under the weekly testing regime at the centre, which has 28 bedrooms and offers high-dependency dementia care and respite provision.

Dorward House is privately-run under a board of directors.

Chairwoman Hester Howie said the directors are “satisfied that the high standard of infection control achieved by Dorward House – which until this case has been completely virus-free throughout the past two months – will continue to be maintained”.

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All families and friends have been supported and will continue to be kept up to date.

HESTER HOWIE

She added: “From the surveillance testing results of July 8, all residents and staff have shown negative.”

Mrs Howie said the guidance and advice from the Scottish Government, NHS and Angus Health and Social Care Partnership had been followed, with residents being isolated in their own rooms during lockdown.

She added: “All staff teams have worked tirelessly and have adapted their work patterns to deal with this and ease, as far as possible, the inevitable distress to residents and their families.

“All families and friends have been supported and will continue to be kept up to date with official guidance and advice and how this impacts on the care and experience of the residents.”

Mrs Howie said: “The directors recognise the dedication, resilience and compassion shown by all staff throughout the pandemic, and the vital part that each has played in continuing to provide the highest quality of care to meet the assessed needs of every resident.”

A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: “We understand this is a really worrying time for people who experience care, their loved ones and families and for those who work in care.

“The service has notified us and we are in close contact to provide advice and guidance.”