Three more people have died after an outbreak of Covid-19 at a Broughty Ferry care home, bringing the total to nine.
The most recent deaths at Lochleven, on Lawers Drive, all occurred at the weekend after The Courier previously revealed six had died in a week.
Only three were tested and confirmed to have the virus while the other six are suspected cases, the home’s operator Thistle Healthcare say.
Carers at the highly rated facility, which received top marks in a recent report by the industry watchdog, have been fighting an outbreak that has taken hold in a single unit there.
Bosses at the home have hit out at testing delays and say it has “presented significant additional challenges”.
Management believe an increase in testing would mean staff are able to get back to caring for residents.
A spokesperson for Thistle Healthcare repeated calls for more testing.
He said: “Everyone at Lochleven is devasted at the loss of three of our residents, and we have shared our heartfelt condolences with their families.
“We’re asking for testing for as many as our staff and residents as possible, so we can protect the health of everyone in our care community – residents, staff and their families.
“Our staff continue to work incredibly hard to keep our residents safe, and we owe them our profound gratitude and support.”
The Lochleven Care Home received a five out of a possible six rating, and was labelled very good, after being visited by the Care Inspectorate in June last year.
Meanwhile, another death linked to Covid-19 has been reported at Lochbank Manor in Forfar, bringing the total there to four.
Last week, it was reported three people had died at the Graham Crescent facility in the space of a few days.
Tom Dailey, CEO of parent company Kennedy Care Group, said there has been no deaths linked to the virus at any of its other care homes in the past week.
The group runs 10 homes in Tayside, including Redwood House in Broughty Ferry, which saw an outbreak at the start of the month.
