Covid-19 infections at contact tracing centre confirmed

Measures have been brought in by NHS Lanarkshire to try to suppress the outbreak, which flared up at the Sitel site at Eurocentral.

The health board said it had been notified about “potentially linked cases” in the area on Sunday.

An NHS Test and Trace spokeswoman said: “We are aware of a local outbreak of Covid-19 at the Sitel site. This is being managed by Sitel and colleagues in NHS Lanarkshire, who are following appropriate test and protect action in line with Scottish Government advice.

“We take the safety and wellbeing of our staff very seriously. Everyone at the site is currently working from home while a deep clean takes place, and will be offered a test.”

NHS Test and Trace is a service operated by the NHS in England to track and help prevent the spread of Covid-19 south of the border.

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney says investigations are needed to “get an understanding” of how guidance was being followed within the facility.

Speaking on Good Morning Scotland, he said: “The virus is at a very low level within Scottish society today, the compliance efforts of members of the public have successfully reduced the prevalence of coronavirus, but we have to keep it that way.”

Mr Swinney added that actions being taken by NHS Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Council were “reassuring”.