A total of 24 people have now tested positive for COVID-19 following an outbreak at a call centre in Lanarkshire, the First Minister revealed at her briefing today.
The figure includes 17 people who are employed at the Sitel site at Eurocentral, Maxim Park, near Motherwell, with another seven linked contacts to the site.
This is a rise of four on yesterday’s figures.
The Scottish Government said the Sitel building in Maxim Park, has been closed while contact tracing continues and will remain shut for “as long as necessary”.
Staff were working for NHS England on their test and trace programme.
The First Minister said: “Now given that the virus can have a long incubation period, intensive work is still ongoing in order to ensure that all possible chains of transmission in this outbreak are being closed down and I am very grateful to everyone who is working very hard as part of that effort.”
Earlier this week a Motherwell pub closed for a deep clean after learning a staff member was linked to the outbreak at the call centre.
The Tavern Pub in Merry Street posted on their Facebook page on Tuesday “that all staff members who had direct contact with the infected person have tested negative”.
They were later given the all-clear to re-open on Tuesday afternoon. A post of their Facebook page stated: “Good afternoon everyone, after working hand-in- and with Public Health Scotland and the Environmental Health Agency we have been given the green light to reopen this afternoon, through social distancing, wearing masks, sanitising and track trace we can all keep each other safe.”
The pub has been praised by customers, with Susan Ann McCready posting: “Well done for the actions you’ve taken. Sounds like you’ve got it well under control. Hope staff are okay.”
Gary Reid said: “I was in the pub on Saturday and the staff could not do more to make sure their customers were safe. Also have handled this situation brilliantly.”
