The outgoing chief executive of East Ayrshire Council spent her final days with the organisation self-isolating after being exposed to Covid on a trip to Dubai.
Fiona Lees retired from her role with the local authority yesterday having served 26 of her 42 years of public service with the organisation.
But the 63-year-old was told to stay at home by Test and Protect staff after coming into contact with someone with the coronavirus during the trip at the end of last month.
It is believed that her son lives in Dubai with Ms Lees insisting she has been “complying fully” with Covid restrictions. She described her journey as “essential” but did not go into further detail.
The United Arab Emirates was removed from the UK travel corridor list this week with travellers returning to Scotland being ordered to quarantine on arrival for 10 days since 4am on Monday.
In addition, passengers who had travelled to Scotland from Dubai since January 3 were also being asked to isolate for 10 days, from the date they arrived back in the country.
In a statement issued to the Daily Record, Ms Lees, who lives in Ayr, said: “Throughout this pandemic I have led by example, complying fully with the Covid restrictions and encouraging employees, colleagues and communities to do the same.
“I can confirm that I did travel to Dubai at the end of December on what I consider to be an essential journey. I was tested for Covid upon my arrival, in line with the entry requirements for travellers to Dubai. This test was negative.
“I completed a Passenger Locator Form prior to my return to Scotland and was subsequently contacted by Test and Protect on Sunday, January 10. I was advised of the need to self-isolate and can confirm that I am currently doing so.
“I have worked in local government for 42 years, 26 of which have been with East Ayrshire and as I bow out of public sector service this week, I have never felt more proud of our employees and communities and our collective response as we tackle the impact of coronavirus.”
Barry Fletcher, Scotland organiser for the GMB Union, told the Daily Record: “Fiona Lees is saying it was an essential trip, but she should come out publicly and explain the reasons why she felt it necessary to make a trip to Dubai when the whole of Scotland is in the middle of a pandemic and the Scottish Government guidelines are to stay at home.”
In an interview with the Kilmarnock Standard in September, Ms Lees, who is originally from Moffat, Dumfriesshire, explained she was retiring at the start of 2021 because the council's recovery and challenges from Covid was “a future that’s without me”.
“The thing that makes me most proud is how we have dealt with Covid,” she reflected at the time.
“Because although we’ve dealt with difficulties in the past, we’ve never dealt with anything that’s been trying to kill us.
“The way our communities and teams have worked together; I’ve never been more proud.”
