Six residents at a care home in Scotland test positive for coronavirus as Britain prepares to put over 70s on four-month lockdown
- The six are staying at the Highgate Care Home in North Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Staff, residents and their families are being informed they have tested positive
- Comes as Matt Hancock confirmed over 70s will have to isolate for four months
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Six people at a care home in Scotland have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Highgate Care Home in North Lanarkshire said it had put in place ‘strict infection control measures’ after it identified the positive cases of Covid-19.
Staff, residents and their families are being informed.
It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the government will tell the elderly to stay at home for up to four months as he admitted the NHS does not currently have enough ventilators for the fight against coronavirus.
Highgate Care home in Scotland where six residents have tested positive for the coronavirus
He said people over the age of 70 will be told to self-isolate even if they do not have symptoms in a bid to stem the spread of the disease and protect the most vulnerable in society as the number of UK deaths hit 35.
He said ‘we don’t want to do that too soon because clearly it is not an easy thing for people to do, it is not an easy thing for people to sustain’ but he said he expected the stay-at-home advice to be issued ‘certainly in the coming weeks absolutely’.
It is unclear how old the infected residents of the care home are.
John Kirk, managing director of the care home, said: ‘The health, safety and wellbeing of our residents and colleagues is of paramount importance. As such, we are committed to doing everything we can to keep them safe.
‘We are working closely with all the relevant bodies, including NHS Lanarkshire and Health Protection Scotland, as we implement our comprehensive contingency plan, which includes closing the home to all but absolutely essential visitors, and continuing to take steps to ensure the highest standards of hygiene and infection control.’
Yesterday, Matt Hancock said people over the age of 70 will be told to self-isolate even if they do not have symptoms
Dr John Logan, NHS Lanarkshire consultant in public health medicine, said: ‘We appreciate this is a very worrying time for many people.
‘Highgate Care Home has implemented infection prevention and control measures and the NHS Lanarkshire Health Protection Team will continue to provide advice and support to the care home manager and staff.’
The mass isolation of the elderly – even if they are not ill – as well as younger people with serious health conditions is expected to start within the next 20 days and it is one of a number of more draconian measures now being prepared by ministers.
Whole families will soon be told to isolate themselves even if just one member falls ill with coronavirus-related symptoms.