Skye care home worker retests positive for Covid-19 virus
NHS Highland confirmed that a member of staff at Home Farm care home in Portree has re-tested positive for Covid-19, writes Mark Entwistle.
The individual has been followed up in line with national guidance and has been advised to isolate and contact tracing has been undertaken.
In addition, and as a further precaution, NHS Highland said it was in the process of re-testing individuals in keeping with national guidance and would inform all of those tested of their results as soon as they were available.
The home, which was at the centre of a court hearing earlier this year after 10 residents died as a result of a Covid-19 outbreak, has been closed to new admissions.
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.
As such, an ongoing positive result does not mean that an individual is still infectious or that they pose a risk to others.
However, when combined with new symptoms, it is necessary to adopt a precautionary approach as it is not possible to exclude the potential of a new infection or reactivation.
NHS Highland said there are no other cases of confirmed Covid-19 infection in the local community or on the rest of Skye and does not believe there to be an increased risk of Covid-19 infection to the wider community at this time.
However, the virus can recur even in rural communities and so everyone should continue to adhere to physical distancing guidelines, wear a face-covering when in enclosed spaces, clean their hands and surfaces regularly and immediately self-isolate if they develop symptoms.