Second hospital ward at Raigmore Hospital closed due to Covid
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Ward 7a at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness is closed to new admissions and visiting following the detection of a small number of cases of Covid-19.
Patients are being clinically assessed and monitored with normal in-patient care continuing.
Hospital chiefs have said all appropriate infection prevention and control measures have been put in place.
An NHS Highland spokesperson said: "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 later this 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.”
People can reduce the spread of Covid-19 by taking regular LFD tests and booking a PCR test if they have symptoms.
An update will be given by the health authority after 4pm tomorrow.
