Dumfries and Galloway Covid outbreak `under control' as new case emerges

A fresh Covid-19 case has emerged in a cross-border cluster of cases covering Dumfries and Galloway and Cumbria, it has emerged.
Prof Jason Leitch hailed the fantastic job done by the public health authoritiesProf Jason Leitch hailed the fantastic job done by the public health authorities
Prof Jason Leitch hailed the fantastic job done by the public health authorities

But Scotland's national Clinical Director hailed the "fantastic job" done by the public health authorities in bringing the outbreak under control.

More than 20 contacts have now been traced in relation to the cluster who are now self-isolating.

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"There are now eleven positive cases in that outbreak," Prof Leitch told today’s daily Coronavirus briefing.

"It's important to understand that the new positive in the last 24 hours is not connected to other households in this outbreak in any way but has an independent connection to the Carlisle hospital.

"In that sense we're counting it as one outbreak across both of the jurisdictions.

"We're reaching out all staff at the hospital who live in Dumfries and Galloway, with a Scottish residential postcode and offering them anything they need in terms of testing if that's appropriate and other support if they wish."

There have been 23 "contacts" identified in relation to the incident who are now self-isolating, the medic added, who have all been spoken to and are self-isolating.

"At this point we believe that is the end of the contact tracing, but you can never be absolutely sure it's not an exact science."

He added: "So far, the public health leads and the public have done a fantastic job in controlling this outbreak, but we may be back next week telling you that's no longer the case."

Testing is complete at the two Alpha Solway factories where a contact had been identified, along with testing ongoing at the nearby Young's factory.

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