Health officials are urgently contacting parents and carers of children at a private Fife nursery after a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19.
NHS Fife has confirmed the employee at the Poppyview Family Centre in Ajax Way, Methil, was tested after showing symptoms of the virus and a positive result was recorded on Wednesday.
It is understood the staff member predominantly worked in the centre’s baby room and parents have been told infants who have been in the room recently must isolate for 14 days from Wednesday September 2 and up to and including Tuesday September 15.
A NHS Fife spokesperson revealed: “There continues to be no evidence of any onward transmission within the nursery school and the risk of contracting coronavirus for both children and nursery staff remains low.
“Following a risk assessment by NHS Fife, the parents, and carers of infants in Room 2, are being contacted by the NHS Test and Protect Team who will provide appropriate public health support and advice.”
The case is thought to be the first to affect a private nursery in the region, after a number of mainstream primary and secondary schools across Fife have been linked with cases in recent weeks.
Poppyview Family Centre can accommodate up to 126 children from six-weeks-old to 14 years-old, although the number of infants looked after is just a fraction of that number.
No more than 34 children under the age of two can be looked after at the centre, according to the Care Inspectorate, while no more than 12 under the age of 12 months should be there at any one time.
The staff member who tested positive continues to have mild symptoms and is said to be self-isolating at home with other household members.
Parents and carers of youngsters enrolled with Poppyview have been told their children can return to the nursery school on Wednesday September 19 – providing they remain symptom-free.
Anyone experiencing the established symptoms of Covid-19, such as a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, is asked to arrange testing using the UK Government Citizens’ Portal or by calling 0800 028 2816.
