A RESIDENT at Thorney Croft Care Home in Stranraer has died following an outbreak of Covid-19 there.
It comes after 31 residents and as many members of staff at the home tested positive for coronavirus this week.
Martin McGuigan, managing director at Community Integrated Care, the charity which runs the home, said once the outbreak was identified staff “took immediate action implementing a number of additional robust infection control measures including increased colleague testing and an ongoing decontamination schedule.”
However, he regretted it was “with great sadness” to report that a resident had passed away as a result and added: “Our hearts go out to their loved ones, as well as our colleagues.”
A spokesman for Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership called the situation “concerning,” but highlighted “the dedication shown by Community Integrated Care and their staff at Thorney Croft in their response.”
He added: “Work has taken place to contain the spread of Covid-19, and this outbreak within the wider context of rapidly increasing numbers of cases in Wigtownshire and the wider region demonstrates just how highly transmissible the Covid-19 virus is, even when the correct protocols are being observed.”
Commenting, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries Finlay Carson said: “It is with enormous sadness that I have been told one of the residents has lost their life following an outbreak of the Covid-19 virus there.
“My immediate thoughts go out to their family and loved ones who have suffered this great loss.
“It is also extremely worrying that a total of 31 other residents have also tested positive, as have a similar number of staff members. It shows just how infectious this latest strain of the virus can be.
“Clearly I send them all my best wishes for a speedy recovery and hope the robust infection control measures being carried out prove successful sooner rather than later in order to halt this outbreak.”
