COVID cases in stroke ward and factory

Three staff at Ward 40 recently tested positive for COVID-19 with 15 health workers in total self-isolating as a precaution.

Dr. Brown said: “Three members of staff on Ward 40 at Altnagelvin Hospital have tested positive for COVID–19 and 15 staff are currently off work and self-isolating as a precautionary measure. All 23 patients on Ward 40 have been tested and there are currently no positive cases on the ward.

“The Trust is taking all the necessary infection prevention and control measures to protect our patients and staff and the Department of Health and Public Health Agency have been informed of the situation.”

Meanwhile, in Strabane, O’Neills Irish International Sports Co. Ltd. confirmed that it had closed a section of its production unit for a deep clean after five confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the workforce.

A spokesperson for O’Neills said that a further 21 employees from the Dublin Road facility were also self-isolating as a precautionary measure and the company is liaising closely with the Public Health Agency (PHA) to monitor the situation.

The spokesperson said: “The health and safety of our employees and their families together with our clients and customers is our highest priority. In addition to the deep clean which is currently being carried out, we will continue implementing the rigorous protocols introduced from the outset of the pandemic in relation to social distancing and hand sanitising that we have been adhering to in order to help combat the impact of this virus. We wish all of our staff who are currently affected well in their recovery and will continue to help provide whatever support we can going forward.”