COVID OUTBREAK ...AT HOLYROOD!
Staff infected at parliament ... weeks after Sturgeon said it was too early to go to work
THE Scottish parliament was last night at the centre of a major Covid alert after staff tested positive for coronavirus.
A number of workers are infected and others have been ordered to self-isolate, officials have confirmed.
Holyrood will now undergo a ‘deep clean’ to try to minimise the risk of further infection.
No MSPs have tested positive during the outbreak. The parliament’s chief executive admitted that staff and politicians may feel ‘uneasy’ about returning to the building, but he insisted there would be no interruption to parliamentary business.
However, the outbreak in Scotland’s corridors of power is sure to spark a fresh debate about safety in the workplace.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly warned it is too early for most Scots to return to their place of work. But since closing for a few weeks last year at the start of the pandemic, Holyrood has stayed open and continued to operate – albeit with slimmed down staffing numbers.
The eyes of the world have been on the building in recent days as Alex Salmond and the First Minister gave evidence before a Holyrood inquiry. The committee regularly had to break to allow for a ‘deep clean’, with MSPs, lawyers, witnesses and observers ordered to vacate the room.
The outbreak was confined to the upper
basement, which includes the post room, several offices, changing rooms, and the door to the car park used by Ministers.
Meanwhile, latest figures released yesterday show:
● A further 12 people died in Scotland from Covid, with the overall death toll now approaching 10,000;
● There were a further 555 positive tests, but the ‘test positivity rate’, a key measure, is down to just 3 per cent;
● There are 639 people in hospital with Covid, including 63 patients in intensive care − both figures continue to fall;
● More than 1.7 million people have now been vaccinated in Scotland, 114,081 of whom have also received their second dose.
Last night, parliament chiefs insisted there would be no need to close Holyrood or cancel sittings.
There are also no plans to ask MSPs to take a test before returning to the building.
However, they refused to say exactly how many people had tested positive, or if any had become seriously ill.
On Tuesday, MSPs will vote on the Budget, and parliament faces a crucial few weeks before closing ahead of May’s Scottish elections.
There have been no moves to pause May’s vote, despite concerns about people filing in and out of polling stations, and the difficulty in organising counts. News of the outbreak was revealed in an email by parliament chief executive David McGill to staff yesterday.
He said: ‘A small number of positive cases of Covid-19 have been identified among our parliament passholders in recent days.
‘The parliament immediately alerted NHS Lothian’s Health Protection Team and has been working with them to identify close contacts and to isolate potentially exposed persons.
‘The isolated staff will only return to work after completing their tenday isolation period.
‘As a further precautionary measure, other colleagues who could potentially have been in contact with these individuals have already been advised to remain off campus and to take a test to prevent further transmission of the virus.
‘We have also undertaken a deep clean of a number of areas.
‘I appreciate some staff might feel uneasy at hearing this news. The chances that members of parliament and other parliamentary staff would have been in contact with an affected individual is very low and [it is] very unlikely they may have acquired infection from them.
‘We are assured that parliamentary business can take place as scheduled, with matters being kept under close review.’
NHS Lothian and parliament officials are now working together to try to keep the outbreak under control. A Scottish parliament spokesman said: ‘We are taking a highly proactive and precautionary approach to protect all who work at Holyrood. To respect and maintain patient confidentiality, no further details will be released.’
An NHS Lothian spokesman said: ‘Our Health Protection Team is working with the Scottish parliament to conduct a series of Covid-19 tests and implement selfisolation periods for a small group of support staff.
‘Other workers who could have been in contact with them while at work are being asked to self-isolate and take a test to prevent further transmission of the virus.
‘All necessary guidance and advice is being provided and the situation will be closely monitored.
‘Everyone should continue to be vigilant and aware of the symptoms of Covid-19.’
Last night, political parties welcomed efforts to suppress the virus and treat those affected.
A Scottish Tory spokesman said: ‘As we have seen throughout this pandemic, a swift response is necessary to make sure that the virus is suppressed and that nobody is exposed to a health risk.
‘We are pleased that parliament has urgently taken action.’
James Kelly, Scottish Labour’s business manager, said: ‘The health and safety of all who work within the parliament is of paramount importance. I am glad proactive measures have been taken.’
‘Some staff might feel uneasy at this news’