Council issues coronavirus warning after positive test

In an e-mail, sent yesterday afternoon (Monday, May 18), to those who attended the meeting in Dungannon council offices on April 23, Council advised that a person at the meeting has had a test for coronavirus which has returned a positive result.

“I wish to advise you that a person in attendance at the Council meeting held in the Dungannon Chamber on April 23, 2020 was tested for coronavirus on May 15, 2020. The test result has come back as positive,” begins the e-mail.

“You were in attendance at the meeting and therefore, should you, or any member of your household have any coronavirus like symptoms you should self-isolate and follow the latest advise and guidance.

“You will appreciate that under the General Data Protection Regulations it is not possible to name the individual concerned.”

Speaking after the news emerged, a spokesperson for Mid Ulster District Council said the meeting took place before regulations allowing for remote Council meetings were introduced.

The spokesperson also said that all measures to safeguard attendees were in place at the meeting.

“The Council has been made aware that a person in attendance at its Council meeting on April 23, 2020 has tested positive for coronavirus from a test taken on May 15, 2020,” said the spokesperson.

“As a result, we are contacting all those who were at the meeting and advising them to self-isolate should they or members of their household show symptoms.

“While the meeting took place prior to the legislation being introduced to allow councils to hold meetings remotely, only a third of elected members attended and other Councillors accessed the meeting online.

“All measures to safeguard attendees, including social distancing, enhanced cleaning and hand-washing facilities, were in place.”

Adam Morton , Local Democracy Reporting Service