NHS Lothian has launched a public appeal after the health board was made aware of a cluster of Covid-19 cases associated with the The Foresters Pub in Pathhead, Midlothian.
A number of people who attended an outdoor event at the pub on Saturday 5 September have tested positive for the virus and public health consultants say urgent action is needed to prevent further spread of infection.
NHS Lothian is requesting all those who were at the music event at The Foresters Pub on Saturday 5 September to self-isolate for the remainder of the incubation period, up to and including Saturday 19 September.
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Dr Duncan McCormick, Public Health Consultant at NHS Lothian and Chair of the expert group monitoring the situation said;
“We have seen transmission of the virus among patrons who were at The Foresters Pub in Pathhead on 5 September when a music event was held. All those who have tested positive so far have been contacted by the national Test and Protect Team and they and their contacts continue to self-isolate at home. A risk assessment has been done and we want everyone who was there at the music event to self isolate to help reduce the risk of onward spread.
“We know cases of Covid-19 are rising throughout Scotland and it is absolutely vital that that we all do everything we can to turn this around. We would remind people that music in venues can encourage people to raise their voices which makes it easier for the virus to be transmitted.”
Close contacts of positive cases would be asked to self-isolate for 14 days from the last contact with a confirmed case.
Given the time that has passed between the first person becoming ill and being tested, there are now only four days left of the 14 day incubation period when a person could develop COVID-19.
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The NHS Lothian Health Protection Team has also been working with two schools in East Lothian as contract tracing has been completed at one while being carried out at another.
There is no evidence of transmission within Knox Academy, but a statement on the school’s website said: “There has been a confirmed case of Covid-19 within Knox Academy.
“A detailed risk assessment has been carried out by the school and Health Protection to identify any close contacts.
“The school remains open and if your young person has not been contacted then they should continue to attend school if they remain well.”
Preston Lodge High School also remains open as enhanced cleaning measures continue.
The health board also confirmed a small number of people at Drylaw Police station in Edinburgh have tested positive.
A previous version of this article referenced a karaoke event, but NHS Lothian has now been made aware that the event was a music gig and not karaoke as previously stated.
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