The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Staff member at beleaguered home tests positive for Covid-19
The NHS last night confirmed that a member of staff at the troubled Home Farm Care Home in Portree has re-tested positive for Covid-19.
The employee was advised to isolate and contact tracing has been undertaken.
NHS Highland is now retesting staff and residents to ensure it has not spread, and the home has been closed to new admissions.
The health board 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.
“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.”
There are no other cases of confirmed Covid-19 in the local community or the rest of Skye.
The news came as NHS Highland was accused of telling a “blatant lie” over the handling of the investigation into 10 deaths at the home.
Families whose relatives died said they are angry and frustrated amid claims of miscommunication.
Ten residents died during an outbreak of Covid-19 there with NHS Highland stepping in to provide assistance to operator HC One.
An NHS Highland spokesman told The Press and Journal on July 11 it had contacted “relatives and next of kin to ensure they are fully informed of concerns and progress to-date and to ensure their views inform the investigation process”.
But families have now called that statement a “blatant lie”, with some contending they have not been contacted to contribute to a “large scale investigation”.
Mandie Harris, whose husband Colin was one of 10 residents who died, said NHS Highland only contacted her to ask if she wished to be kept up to date.
She added: “The word large-scale investigation has never been mentioned to me.
“I am really angry. My husband died along with other residents. Surely, that entitles us to give our opinion and be kept informed?”
An NHS spokesman said the family would be contacted directly.