Following an outbreak of COVID-19 at Charnwood Lodge Care Home in Dumfries, Community Integrated Care – the charity which runs the home – and Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership have been working in close partnership to ensure all necessary plans and protocols are in place to manage the outbreak.
Very sadly, within the past week there has been a further three deaths of residents where COVID was recorded as being present, bringing the total to ten.
Thoughts continue to be with families and with staff at this time.
Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership note that has been a very difficult and distressing situation for all involved, and note the swift action, dedication and commitment of care home operators Community Integrated Care and their colleagues in how they have responded.
Work was immediately undertaken to contain the spread of COVID-19, and this has not been an easy task against what is an invisible and highly transmissible virus. This outbreak demonstrates just how challenging it is to contain the virus even when all the correct protocols are being observed.
COVID-19 can result in mild symptoms, and sometimes none at all. However, this potentially deadly virus can still continue to spread and can pose a very significant risk to anyone and everyone.
Following the guidance around the use of PPE including face coverings, around physical distancing and good hygiene remains absolutely vital – but these are by no means an absolute guarantee of protection.
These tools are quite simply the best measures which currently exist to help reduce the risk as much as possible, and help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
We would once again urge everyone to adhere to these directions, and crucially to immediately self-isolate and arrange a test if they develop any of the following symptoms, and to continue to isolate until they obtain a result:
- Raised temperature
- Continuous cough
Change to or loss of sense of taste and/or smell.
As stated, symptoms of COVID-19 can sometimes be mild, but this does not reduce the level of risk to others from what can be a deadly virus. So if you are in any doubt, please immediately self-isolate and make arrangements for a test and work with our Test and Protect team to help limit any further spread.
The responsibility rests with every one of us to do our part to try and limit the spread of coronavirus, and protect ourselves, our loved ones, neighbours, colleagues and communities.
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