Two confirmed cases of Covid–19 at Highland garden centre café; Contact tracing now in place at Simpsons amid safety assurances from NHS Highland health chief
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Two kitchen staff at a popular Highland garden centre café have tested positive for Covid–19.
NHS Highland said it has become aware of two cases of the virus at Simpson’s Garden Centre in Inverness.
The garden centre café has now voluntarily closed for two weeks as a precaution, and contact tracing is now taking place.
A spokeswoman for NHS Highland said: "Two kitchen staff have been confirmed as positive cases. Neither of these staff have had direct contact with customers. As a precautionary measure the kitchen and restaurant has voluntarily closed for a period of 14 days from Sunday September 20.
"The garden centre at Simpson’s remains open to the public at this time.
"NHS Highland’s health protection team has undertaken case follow up in accordance with national guidance.
"Contact tracing is being carried out with all those identified as close contacts being advised to self-isolate.
"Any close contacts of positive cases will be identified through this route – if you have not been contacted by our health protection team please be reassured that there is no cause for concern. No customers have been identified as close contacts at present."
Dr Tim Allison, director of public health with NHS Highland, said: “We appreciate that this will be causing anxiety within the local community but please be reassured that investigations so far have seen no evidence of wider community spread. There is currently no evidence that food is a source of coronavirus, Covid–19, and it is very unlikely it can be transmitted through the consumption of food.
“NHS Highland is working closely with Environmental Health colleagues in the Highland Council and we would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that you 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.”
