COVID-19 Testing Update 19 October 2020

The Chief Medical Officer, Dr John Lee, reports that 980 COVID-19 tests have been carried out since this was last reported on Friday, 17 October 2020. Two were positive who are travellers who will remain in isolation until they have recovered.

Over the weekend, 980 COVID-19 test results were returned, which is a large number and includes the final screening of the people related to the Red Bay Primary School (RBPS) incident, previously reported. It is very reassuring that all of the results from the RBPS incident have been negative. This figure includes the results sent out via Twitter on Saturday, 17 October evening by Dr. John Lee, and further numbers have been added following work on Sunday, 18 October.

The Health Services Authority, which provides Public Health services and manage the screening processes delivered by Public Health made the following statement.

"All of the primary contacts involved in the Red Bay Primary School incident were called and advised by the Health Services Authority how to manage their sampling on Saturday; and that they needed to return home until they received their results (which is an automatic process). Unfortunately, some of the email addresses provided to return the results were incorrect and this caused a delay in the reports being delivered as planned. All people who were affected have now been called. The HSA wishes to apologise for the worry and inconvenience this may have caused.”