A cluster of Covid-19 cases, including someone suffering from the Omicron variant, has been linked to a Fife hotel, the local health board has warned.
NHS Fife is asking anyone who attended an event at Fairmont Hotel in St Andrews on the evening of Saturday December 4 to be “especially vigilant” against the symptoms of Covid-19.
Fife’s Health Protection Team is working closely with colleagues in Fife’s Council’s environmental health service and the management of the hotel to reduce the risk for further spread of the virus.
These include a new, continuous cough; a fever; or a loss or change in the sense of smell or taste. Anyone experiencing any such symptoms, regardless of how mild, should immediately self-isolate and arrange a test. Information on how to do this is available at the NHS Fife website.
Environmental health
Enhanced contact tracing is currently ongoing to identify the known close contacts of all positive cases in order that they can be given appropriate public health advice and instructed to self-isolate.
NHS Fife’s Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr Esther Curnock, said: “We are aware of cases of Covid-19 linked to a particular evening event held at the Fairmont Hotel in St Andrews on Saturday December 4.
“We are working closely with our colleagues in the local environmental health service, and with the management of the Fairmont Hotel to reduce the risk of more widespread transmission of the virus.
Following a cluster of COVID-19 cases, we are asking anyone who attended an event at Fairmont Hotel in St Andrews on the evening of Sat 04 December 2021 to be especially vigilant of the symptoms of COVID-19.
Find out more here:- https://t.co/RwtHQTrQ31
— NHS Fife (@nhsfife) December 11, 2021
“The evidence at this stage suggests at least some of the those who are known to have tested positive are likely to have been carrying the Omicron variant of the virus, which we know is highly transmissible. It is vital, therefore, that all of those who attended event remain vigilant of the signs and symptoms of the virus, and isolate immediately should any of these develop.
“The advice to local people, however, remains the same as it has for much of the response to the pandemic. Simple steps, such as wearing face coverings, ensuring indoor spaces are well ventilated and thoroughly cleaning our hands surfaces regularly, all contribute towards reducing our risk of catching and spreading the virus.
Welfare support available
“There is clear evidence both here in Fife and elsewhere, that vaccination considerably reduces your risk of coming to serious harm and so we are continuing to urge those who haven’t yet been fully vaccinated to take up that offer as soon as possible.“
A range of welfare support is available to people required to self-isolate, including financial support, food and medication delivery, and help with some caring responsibilities. For more information, visit the Fife Council website.
A spokesperson for the Fairmont Hotel said: “We are working closely with Fife Council and public health authorities to reduce the risk for further spread of the virus following confirmation that a number of guests who attended an event at the hotel on Saturday 4 December have tested positive for Covid.
“We encourage those who attended the event to be vigilant of the symptoms of COVID -19. Enhanced contact tracing is currently ongoing to identify the known close contacts of all positive cases in order that they can be given appropriate public health advice and instructed to self-isolate.”
The news comes following an announcement addressing the threat of the highly-infectious Omicron variant by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
She called for Chirstmas parties and gatherings to be postponed, leading to a number of cancellations across the country.
