Covid outbreak closes second ward to visitors at Raigmore Hospital

An outbreak of coronavirus has closed a second ward to visitors and new admissions at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

There has been a small number of cases at Ward 7a . Patients are being clinically assessed and monitored with normal in-patient care continuing.

All appropriate infection prevention and control measures have been put in place. Close contacts have been identified and given appropriate advice and support.

There is no evidence of any link between these cases and those in ward 5a which also remains closed to new admissions and visiting.

Tests are being assessed to establish whether any of the cases are of the Omicron variant. The results will not be available until next week.

Consultant Microbiologist Adam Brown said, “The fact that we have apparently unrelated instances of Covid-19 in two different wards shows how prevalent the virus is in the community at the moment. It is more important than ever to keep to guidance about distancing, hand washing, and wearing a face covering.”

Yesterday we learned NHS Highland area had one of the highest number of suspected omicron cases in Scotland.

Hear all the latest news from across the North of Scotland on MFR. Listen on FM, via our Rayo app, DAB, or smart speaker.