Concern following two Covid cases at Moray airbase
The non-airforce staff are working for contractor Volker Fitzpatrick at RAF Lossiemouth
Two people, believed to be contractors, have tested positive for coronavirus at RAF Lossiemouth.
The workers were not showing any symptoms, but were picked up during testing of the Volker Fitzpatrick staff.
In a statement shared on social media Station Commander Group Captain Chris Layden said: "I've been briefed that there have been two suspected cases of Covid-19 among the Volker Fitzpatrick workforce who are delivering the essential runway works here at RAF Lossiemouth"
"The workers concerned have immediately been isolated and are undergoing further testing, in accordance with NHS Scotland recommendations"
"They were displaying no symptoms but were identified through testing which Volker Fitzpatrick has been voluntarily conducting with the consent of their workforce"
However, speaking to Northsound News back in April, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead expressed concerns about the "essential work" being carried out at the base.
"I've been contacted by a number of local people concerned by the contractors coming from Leicester, Hampshire, the midlands, and Central-Belt Scotland to work on the base"
"It's not only the local community, but also some of the workers have mentioned their concerns about having to travel back to their families"
"Safety has to come first in protecting people's health and it's not for the MoD to simply hide behind projects saying they are of national security. Perhaps some of that work could be suspended so we can keep everyone safe"
UK and Scottish Government representatives held talks with local community groups to discus the situation late last night.
Community leaders in Lossiemouth feel the MoD has been ‘disrespectful’ in their handling of a Covid scare.
Mike Mulholland, chair of Lossie Community Council, says there’s been concern about English contractors at the RAF base mixing In the area.
Speaking to Northsound News, he said: "What they should've done we feel is to try and confine them to one area, now whether that was a collection of houses - or even on the base - would've been ideal"
Mr Mulholland said some had been housed in hotels, some in AirBnBs, some in other accommodation, and the workers had been travelling back-and-forth from Moray.
"It's when they come off the base. Where are they staying, what they're doing, and what shops they might've been going in-and-out of?"