Skye MSP to pursue answers over Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak at Home Farm care home in Portree
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IT is "imperative to understand" why Covid-19 spread so quickly at a care home on Skye, the local constituency MSP has said.
Five residents at Home Farm care home in Portree have died as a result of Covid-19, and 57 people in total have tested positive for the virus – including half of the 52-strong workforce.
Kate Forbes, whose Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency also includes parts of Ross-shire, said that the news had shocked the local community, many of whom know somebody affected by the outbreak.
She added that people were understandably asking questions, but that the immediate primary focus was preventing the virus spreading any further on the island and saving lives.
“Given the magnitude of what’s happened, it is critical that we get answers about how the virus spread so fast at the care home owned by HC-One," she said. "The frontline carers deserve our most sincere gratitude for all that they are doing. My thoughts are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones over the past few days. It is heartbreaking.
“There are a lot of questions being raised with me about how the virus got a foothold in the care home and then spread so quickly, but the primary focus just now must be on saving lives and ensuring everyone is following the guidance.
“I was reassured to hear the Cabinet Secretary for Health say that the Scottish Government is taking a direct intervention approach with private operators. I must commend NHS Highland and the public health agencies for how quickly they moved to test and trace. I hope the speed of the response by the public health agencies will mean that the virus does not spread further.
“I urge every person to take the Scottish Government guidance seriously, to stay safe and stay at home unless it is absolutely essential. We must limit the spread of the virus, protect our NHS and save lives.”
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