A SCOTTISH Government worker has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Evening News can reveal.

The senior officer at Victoria Quay in Leith was sent home on Thursday as bosses tracked down colleagues who went on training courses with her over the previous week.

Angry staff are now taking to internal message boards to vent their frustrations at a perceived lack of action and an information black-out from bosses.

A SCOTTISH Government worker has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Evening News can reveal.

“I have heard of someone having tested positive,” posted one. “I agree we need to know if this is true, and appropriate measures should be taken.”

The civil servant who tested positive initially reported having come into contact with someone outwith the office who had contracted Covid-19.

She immediately went into self-isolation and gave bosses a list of courses and colleagues she had encountered over the previous week.

Her department was then told later on Thursday she had tested positive but other staff criticised the decision not to share this update wider.

Anyone thinking they were infected should self-isolate in a meeting room and call NHS 111 so the room can be deep cleaned

“How about an update on any positive cases found in government buildings?” one posted on a message board.

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“There are many vulnerable staff working across the government or who come into contact daily with vulnerable family members.

“If rumours are to be believed, why have staff not been informed so they can take necessary precautions?”

A colleague added: “I’d like to think that should anyone test positive, their workplace will be closed down to allow a ‘deep clean’ to take place. It’s what other employers appear to be doing.”

Another labelled rumours “dangerous” and called for updates on any cases and contingencies to be shared to help protect workers.

Anyone thinking they were infected should self-isolate in a meeting room and call NHS 111 so the room can be deep cleaned, one member of staff said they were told.

“I’ve also heard rumours this could be true,” posted another, of the positive case. “Would like to know if it’s 100% true and which building the staff have visited as I provide for my 94-year-old gran who is obviously in the vulnerable category.”

Another worker said an update would be “helpful” and “no one is looking for a witch hunt here - we all know it is no one’s fault if they have coronavirus.”

And a colleague added: “I don’t think that, under the circumstances, it’s unreasonable for people to be informed about any positive cases in their workplace.”

But a response posted by human resources reads: “For data protection reasons we cannot give out information which would identify any staff. This includes location.

“Staff should continue to follow the latest clinical advice through NHS Inform. Cleaning has also been enhanced across teh SG site.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The wellbeing of our staff is a priority. We have well established plans and processes in place to support staff who may be affected by an outbreak of this nature and to ensure the Scottish Government can continue its work for the people of Scotland.

“For data protection reasons we cannot give out information which would identify any patients. This includes details such as their location, place of work, health board area and ethnicity.

“Current guidance is that offices do not need to close in the event of coronavirus cases. In line with NHS advice we have enhanced the cleaning of areas where there has been a suspected or confirmed case and, as part of our business continuity planning, we have home working options in place, particularly for colleagues with underlying health conditions who may be at higher risk or for staff who have been advised to self-isolate.”

Scottish Government worker based in Leith tests positive for coronavirus