Covid outbreak in care home as 18 positive cases confirmed

There has been a Covid-19 outbreak at a care home in the Western Isles.

The NHS and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar confirmed that a number of positive cases have been identified at the Dun Berisay Care Home in Stornoway.

Eighteen residents and staff from the home have tested positive as of Tuesday morning.

Non-essential visiting to the site has been suspended and Test and Protect is under way to identify their close contacts.

Residents’ families have been informed of the current situation and will be kept up-to-date on an ongoing basis.

Teams from NHS Western Isles, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Public Health Scotland are supporting the care home with their arrangements for infection prevention and control to help prevent spread of the infection.

An Incident Management Team has also been formed to help support Dun Berisay staff, residents and residents’ families at this challenging time.

A number of individuals have been identified as close contacts of positive cases and have been required to self-isolate to help prevent further spread of the virus.

An NHS Western Isles spokeswoman said: “Following nine positive tests on Monday, there has now been a total of 18 confirmed cases of Covid-19 among staff and residents at the Dun Berisay Care Home.”

Mike Cowsill’s 90-year-old mother Mariegold is one of the residents at the Dun Berisay care home.

“The home phoned me at the weekend to let me know there was an issue with a couple of residents and a couple of members of staff, and that’s obviously escalated to 18 people,” he said.

“My mum isn’t positive, she had a negative PCR test come through this morning.”

He added that it was a worrying time for his mum as well as residents and staff at the home.

“I believe all the residents would have been vaccinated some time ago and the staff as well, but obviously with the new variants, not everyone who has even been double jagged will be protected,” he continued.

“It’s unfortunate and worrying that 18 cases in one cluster have occurred. But our important job as a community at the moment is to support those who are involved in the best way that we can.

“I feel very fortunate that not only has my mum has excellent care there and is continuing to get that.

“The hardest part is when you bring in isolation because you have to keep the residents apart. That side of it can be quite difficult and I think that side of it is what’s going to be the most difficult thing for her.”