WORK continues to take place in response to cases of COVID-19 associated with Lochmaben Community Hospital. Seven positive cases of COVID have been confirmed among patients associated with the outbreak at the hospital.
The hospital is now closed to new admissions and routine visiting. This will be reviewed regularly with an aim to open up admissions and visiting as early as possible. Visiting is still permitted for end of life patients and patients with mental health issues including dementia, learning disabilities and autism.
This comes as COVID continues to spread in the community. Cases of the Omicron variant are continuing to emerge across Dumfries and Galloway.
A reminder is issued of the great importance of following current rules and guidance. Anyone visiting a hospital, a care home, or any other place where vulnerable people are present should take a lateral flow test and get a negative result before arriving.
Anyone who has tested positive for COVID must self-isolate immediately and keep self-isolating for at least seven days. They can take lateral flow tests on days 6 and 7, and, if these are negative, they can stop isolating, but they still should not visit hospitals or care homes until day 10.
Anyone who has visited a hospital or care home and tests positive up to 48 hours after their visit should notify the staff at once.
Regular testing is encouraged, and can take place at a test centre or at home.
It is also vitally important that anyone who believes they may be experiencing any symptoms of COVID immediately self-isolates, arranges to have a COVID test, and continues to self-isolate until results are received. No one should visit a hospital or care home if they have any COVID symptoms, or if anyone else in their household has any COVID symptoms. The commonest symptoms of COVID are a high temperature, a new persistent cough, and a loss of or change to the sense of smell or taste.
To book a COVID test at a test centre, or order home test kits, please visit https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/test-and-protect/coronavirus-covid-19-testing.
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