First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has thanked staff at two pubs in Motherwell and a coffee shop in Carfin for their cooperation following the Covid-19 outbreak at Sitel.
A total of 20 people, either staff at the Sitel contact tracing centre or people they have been in close proximity with, have now tested positive for the coronavirus.
People at The Railway Tavern and Merlins Bar in Motherwell, and Costa Coffee in Carfin who have been in close contact with staff from the Sitel site who tested positive have been advised to isolate as a precaution.
Around 400 staff working at the centre at Eurocentral have now been tested and 15 have tested positive, a further five people who are close contacts have also been identified as positive tests.
The numbers were revealed as the First Minster gave her daily coronavirus update at lunchtime today.
She said: “Since Sunday an intensive contract tracing operation has been underway and I want to give thanks to everyone involved in that.
“All staff at Sitel have been told to isolate at home for 14 days and in addition all staff have been asked to come forward for testing.
“As of this morning around 390 test results out of around 400 tested overall have been returned and I can confirm that 15 positive cases have been identified as people who work at the site and a further five additional cases have been identified through the tracing of family members and close contacts.
“Contact tracing has also confirmed that a number of Sitel staff who have tested positive also had links to other locations prior to becoming aware of the outbreak.
“Environmental officers have checked on all of these locations. They are satisfied that precautions such as protective equipment and cleaning were in place and that the risk of transmission is therefore low. Close contacts from these locations have also been advised to isolate.
“I want to take the opportunity today to thank these five locations, which are Owen’s Bar in Coatbridge, The Railway Tavern and Merlins Bar in Motherwell, Costa Coffee in Carfin, and End Clothing in Glasgow for their cooperation.
"But I’d also ask people who might have attended these locations over the last week or so to be extra vigilant to follow all guidance, to isolate and book a test if you do experience any symptoms.”
Chief Medical Officer Gregor Smith also thanked the premises affected, adding: “The Incident Management Team believe the risk to the public of Covid-19 is low given staff in these locations were wearing appropriate PPE. However, this is an ongoing process and they will continue to work with any premises as and when further cases develop.
“As always, please follow national guidance on the NHS Inform website if you have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or develop symptoms.”
NHS Lanarkshire’s public health department is working closely with Sitel to ensure appropriate test and protect measures are followed.
The centre has been closed for deep cleaning.
The First Minister added: “This outbreak should be a very clear reminder to all of us that Covid hasn’t gone away, it doesn’t take much for a very small numbers of cases to become much bigger numbers. And while Test and Protect and our local public health teams are working incredibly hard to contain outbreaks it is not just their job. That’s an important point for all of us to remember.”
