A Perthshire care home is closed to visitors for 28 days after it was confirmed that the pensioner who died from Covid-19 this week had been one of its residents.
Parkdale Care Home in Auchterarder has shut following the death of resident Barrie Thom, 93, who became the first person to die from coronavirus in Perth and Kinross since June 9.
The council-run centre has now tested all other residents and staff as the local authority moves to reassure families.
Anyone who tests positive or develops symptoms of the virus will be required to self-isolate as health bodies continue to monitor the situation.
Mrs Thom was also a patient as St Margaret’s Community Hospital in Auchterarder which was closed to new admissions last Thursday when Parkdale also closed to visitors.
Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership said the safety of their residents and staff was their main priority.
A spokesperson for the partnership body said: “Following the confirmation one resident had contracted coronavirus, all other residents and staff were tested and, in line with national guidance, all visits to Parkdale have been suspended for 28 days.
“Anyone who tests positive or develops coronavirus symptoms – a temperature, persistent cough or loss of taste or smell – will be required to self-isolate.
“We would like to reassure residents, their relatives and colleagues that we are taking every possible step to protect them and prevent any further spread of the virus.”
The spokesperson said staff at Parkdale were working in partnership with NHS Tayside, Public Health Scotland, and Perth and Kinross Council and the situation was being monitored with assisance from the NHS health protection team.
“The multi-agency group has assessed the infection and prevention control plans that are in place in the care home, and they have confidence in the stringent measures we have introduced to control the spread of coronavirus,” they added.
NHS Tayside have announced it will reopen St Margaret’s hospital on Friday to new admissions. It said the temporary ban had been due to a single case of Covid-19 at the site.
Visiting at the 10-bed hospital will also be reintroduced from Friday.
