Wastview tests show no signs of coronavirus
MASS testing of residents and staff at Wastview Care Home has yielded no Covid-19 cases.
The tests followed the Covid-19 related deaths of up to five Wastview residents in April, though that figure has never officially been confirmed by Shetland Islands Council, which runs the care home.
Altogether 63 staff members and residents were tested at the care home in Walls after the outbreak of the virus.
The tests are among 242 done locally since 20 April when the last positive result was recorded in Shetland.
NHS Shetland consultant in public health Dr Susan Laidlaw said: “We are pleased to say that the mass testing at the Wastview Care Home has elicited no new cases of Covid-19.
“We would like to thank the care home management and staff, occupational health team, dental nurses, laboratory team, army liaison officers and public health team who were involved in setting up the process.
“As per government policy, should we have any further confirmed cases in any care home, then all the staff there will be tested in the same way.”
Laidlaw said last week that policy required all residents and staff to be tested where there have been confirmed cases of Covid-19 in a care home.
NHS Shetland does not process Covid-19 surveillance samples which are taken in the COVID-19 Assessment Centre. These are sent to Glasgow.
Meanwhile, the SIC is offering Covid-19 testing to key workers in all care home settings and other essential services to avoid staff having to go into self-isolation should they or a member of their family believe they may have Covid-19 symptoms.
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