Harbour House staff member tests positive for Covid-19

The member of staff at Harbour House in West Bay contracted the virus despite receiving their first vaccine in December.

The NHS says the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine should give you good protection. But you need to have the two doses of the vaccine to give you longer lasting protection.

Harbour House reported a member of its staff tested positive on Sunday.

All 53 members of staff were tested with just the one positive result. The staff member, who did not have any symptoms, is now self isolating.

The care home said the member of staff had been following guidelines, wearing the correct PPE and working at a safe distance from residents.

Anna Knight, registered manager at Harbour House, said: "All our residents have been made aware and we are informing the families as quickly as we can. They have been very supportive and understanding and, like us, will continue to be vigilant with their safety.

"We have reacted immediately and taken all the correct action we possibly can.

"We don't feel the need to hide anything and hope that making people aware of this will stop any possible misinformation or miscommunication."

This is the first confirmed case of Covid-19 at Harbour House since the beginning of the pandemic.

The member of staff was informed immediately as were Public Health England, Dorset Council and the NHS teams the home works with.

The care home will now be using lateral flow tests to test every member of staff prior to every shift they work over the next seven days - they hope that this will stop any potential spread and ensure residents are kept safe.

All residents and staff were given a PCR swab test following the positive result.

The care home's residents are due to receive their second vaccine on March 29. They were given their first dose of the vaccine in January, when a team attended the care home to administer the vaccinations.

It's not known when the staff will receive their second vaccine.