A CARE worker at Skye's coronavirus-hit care home has again tested positive for Covid-19, Ian Blackford has said.
Ten residents at Home Farm in Portree died in an outbreak of Covid-19 there.
Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland is currently pursuing legal action against its private operators HC-One and a court hearing is set to take place tomorrow.
The facility in Portree could have its registration suspended.
Today Blackford, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, revealed he's been told that one staff member who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 has done so again.
The individual, who has not been named, is said to have had negative results twice in the intervening period.
Neither NHS Highland and HC-One has yet commented.
But Blackford, the SNP's Westminster leader, has called for all residents and staff to be tested as a precaution.
It has been confirmed to me that one of the staff members at Home Farm who had previously tested positive for covid-19, recovered and was tested negative twice has tested positive again.
— Ian Blackford (@Ianblackford_MP) June 23, 2020
He tweeted: "The staff member concerned was re-rested on Sunday and received confirmation last night that they were positive.
"It is important to stress that when someone does test positive having previously had covid-19 that they may not necessarily be infectious.
"Clearly however we cannot take any risks. I have been in touch with NHS Highland this morning and I have asked that as a precaution all staff and residents at Home Farm are tested today and the results must be known ahead of the court hearing tomorrow.
"I felt it important that the public were aware of this development but I do acknowledge the work that is on going to deliver effective infection control at Home farm.
"I am sure that all in the community will want to offer full support to the residents, their families and all staff at what has been a distressing time for all."
I am sure that all in the community will want to offer full support to the residents, their families and all staff at what has been a distressing time for all.
— Ian Blackford (@Ianblackford_MP) June 23, 2020
NHS Highland and HC-One have been asked for comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here