THIRTEEN confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been linked to a private event held at Cove and Kilcreggan Bowling Club.
NHS Highland's health protection team confirmed on Monday evening that there had been an outbreak in the Kilcreggan area – and also confirmed that there has been a confirmed case of Covid-19 in a staff member at Kilcreggan Primary School.
The event at the bowling club was held on Monday, September 7.
John Neal from Cove and Kilcreggan Bowling Club had announced in a social media post on Monday morning that there had been two confirmed cases of Covid-19 among those who had attended last Monday's event – but it's now been confirmed that the outbreak is more widespread.
NHS Highland said a multi-agency 'incident management team' meeting was held on Monday afternoon to "co-ordinate the investigation and management of the situation in conjunction with Argyll and Bute Council Environment Health Department and other partners".
Contact tracing is being carried out with all those identified as close contacts being advised to self-isolate.
Dr Jenny Wares, NHS Highland’s consultant in public health medicine, said: “This is an evolving situation and work is continuing to follow up cases and their contacts with those contacted being advised to self-isolate and seek testing if symptomatic.
“We would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the virus can recur even in rural communities and so everyone should continue to adhere to physical distancing guidelines, wear a face covering when in enclosed spaces, clean your hands and surfaces regularly and immediately self-isolate if you develop symptoms."
Following confirmation of the Covid-19 case at Kilcreggan Primary, Argyll and Bute Council wrote to parents to say that the affected staff member was last at school on Wednesday, September 9, and that, as with the outbreak connected to the bowling club, said that contact tracing is under way.
The council said in their letter: "Those who have been in direct close contact with the confirmed case are being contacted and they will be asked to stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days.
"The school reopened for this term with appropriate control measures, including enhanced cleaning in place, in accordance with Scottish Government guidance, and these remain in place.
"This is an evolving situation. Meantime the school remains open and pupils should continue to attend if they remain well. If the situation changes significantly then we will update you and provide further advice as necessary.
"As long as your child is well, and as long as other members of the household have no symptoms and are well, then everyone can all go about their normal business, go to work and school etc.
"Anyone who is well and has no symptoms does not need to be tested."
Advice for parents if your child develops symptoms of Covid-19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, or is confirmed as positive, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and further information on testing can be found on NHS Inform.
Once a positive case is confirmed in a house, then all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.
The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
Household members should not go to work, school, public areas or use public transport.
Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
* A new continuous cough and/or
* high temperature
* a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
The NHS says that for most people, especially for children, coronavirus (Covid-19) will be a mild illness.
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