Covid case at Thurso nursery acts as sharp reminder, says local councillor

A Covid-19 outbreak involving a Thurso nursery is a "sharp reminder" that the virus is still present in the community, a local Highland councillor has said.

The nursery in the town's Barrock Street announced on Friday that there had been a confirmed case. Contact tracing is being carried out by members of NHS Highland's health protection team who are also giving advice and guidance.

Councillor Matthew Reiss, who represents Thurso and Northwest Caithness, said: "The fact that there has been an infection at a nursery is a sharp reminder that Covid is still lurking, albeit the number of cases in the county remains extremely low.

"Highland Council asked the Scottish Government a few weeks ago to permit indoor meeting of small numbers as fits in with the Scottish Government's own definition of tier one. Unfortunately this has not yet happened but I am reassured that, whenever there has been a small local outbreak, the precautions that everybody is now extremely familiar with have worked.

"The key phrase is 'common sense' and we mustn't let down our guard."

A spokesman for NHS Highland said: "NHS Highland is aware of a confirmed case of Covid-19 associated with Playden Nursery in Thurso. Our health protection team is carrying out contact tracing and is also giving the appropriate advice and guidance to the nursery."

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