Hundreds of students caught up in a coronavirus outbreak at two accommodation sites in Dundee are to be told when their periods of self-isolation can end.
As of 3pm on Wednesday, a total of 98 people had tested positive for Covid-19 at the IQ-run Parker House halls of residence and Abertay University’s Meadowside Halls.
Hundreds of students were forced into quarantine in their accommodation following the outbreak last week.
NHS Tayside said 74 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 at Parker House, a rise of two in the past day.
There remains 24 confirmed cases at Meadowside Halls. This figure has not changed since Tuesday.
At Parker House, contact tracing remains on-going with all 500 residents continuing to self-isolate. The students have been offered testing.
Those who have tested positive at Meadowside Halls are self-isolating, along with their contacts. Testing kits have been delivered.
Dundee coronavirus outbreak spreads to second student halls of residence
NHS Tayside’s public health team is also investigating a “small number of cases” linked to other university and college accommodation in Dundee.
Dr Daniel Chandler, NHS Tayside’s associate-director of public health and chairman of the incident management team, said “more detailed guidance” on when students can cease self-isolating at Parker House and Meadowside Halls will be issued on Thursday.
He added this advice will “vary” depending on circumstances.
He said: “I would like to once again thank the student population of Tayside for their continued support and understanding at this time.
“We do not underestimate the effect that asking individuals to self-isolate has on their lives.
“We know that many students have questions about when their period of self-isolation can end and the NHS Tayside Health Protection and Test and Protect team have been working hard to gather information to allow us to issue more detailed guidance.
“Tomorrow, I will be writing to residents of Parker House and Meadowside Halls to outline more detailed guidance on when their periods of self-isolation can end.
“It is important to note that the guidance on when self-isolation can end will vary depending on each individual’s circumstances.
“This means that residents of Meadowside and Parker House will be ending their period of self-isolation on different dates. It is important that each resident continues their self-isolation until the date they are advised.
“In the meantime, I would encourage all students who develop symptoms to self-isolate and book a test as soon as possible.
“I would also urge students who test positive to provide the Test and Protect team with feedback on their most recent contacts as soon as possible when we get in touch. This information will help our contact tracing efforts to track and limit the spread of the virus.”
