Covid closes businesses including open-air pool

Adozen businesses across Stonehaven have been shut following a spike in Covid cases. Stonehaven Open Air Pool is among the latest to close after team members were asked to self-isolate.

Restaurants and takeaways including the Station Hotel and The Bay have also shut their doors.

The Stonehaven area is currently recording some of the highest rates of cases in Aberdeenshire, with 54 confirmed between June 22 and 28.

NHS Grampian has urged people to make use of the mobile testing unit that visits the town on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays to help tackle the “rapid rise” in cases.

Tests for those not suffering from symptoms – but who could still be spreading the virus – can also be picked up from pharmacies or ordered direct to people’s homes.

The pool, which only reopened for the summer season in May, is expected to remain shut until Monday.

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman stressed that no swimmers had been at risk.

He added: “We are closing the facility due to team members being asked to isolate. There is no risk to any pool-users and the facility is not the source.”

The Station Hotel and Trouper’s Bar have both confirmed they will be closed for 10 days after

staff members tested positive.

Popular fish and chip shop The Bay had announced on Wednesday it would stay closed as owner Calum Richardson awaited results of a Covid test, but yesterday it was confirmed he had tested positive and the premises will remain closed until July 9 with all staff now getting checked.

Meanwhile, the Carron Fish Bar, Queens Hotel and the Shamrock and Thistle coffee shop have also all announced temporary closures.

Beauty salon Belle Vie also announced it was to shut after coming into contact with someone who received a positive result.

Last week, The View’s owners said that they had decided to close as a precaution on their Facebook page after a member of staff came into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

Stonehaven currently has a seven-day positivity rate of more than 400 cases per 100,000 people – more than double the current Aberdeenshire rate of 184.5 – but the town does not have the highest rate in the region with Rosehearty, Newmachar, Garlogie, Banchory and Auchterless all ranging from 400 to 450.

A spokesman for NHS Grampian said: “We are seeing a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases in Stonehaven, as well as in other parts of Grampian.

“We continue to encourage everyone to keep following the Facts guidance, to attend their vaccination appointments when invited, to self-isolate and book a PCR test immediately if they develop symptoms.

“And also access regular asymptomatic testing to help us identify cases as quickly as possible.

“In addition to the mobile testing unit, a new community testing unit will be at Mackie Academy on Thursdays between 10am-3pm.

“If you don’t have symptoms, you can order a lateral flow device test kit, with seven tests, via the NHS Inform website.

“These can be collected from participating pharmacies or sent directly to your home.

“Please remember, LFD tests should only be used by those without symptoms.”

Aberdeenshire Council will also be increasing its mobile testing facilities next week.

Converted library vans will travel to communities including Fraserburgh, Banff, Turriff, Oldmeldrum, Kemnay, Laurencekirk, Stonehaven and Westhill to offer the tests.

The full timetable is available via the website.

Yesterday Scotland reported a new record high of Covid cases with 4,234 positive tests within the last 24 hours.