Second hospital ward closes due to Covid-19 outbreak amid Omicron fear

A second ward has shut its doors at a hospital in the Highlands after an outbreak of coronavirus.

Tests are being assessed to determine if the Covid-19 cases are of the new Omicron variant at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

Ward 7a is closed to visitors and new admissions following the detection of what NHS Highland said was a “small number” of positive coronavirus results.

It comes just a week after Ward 5a had to be closed due to an outbreak.

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.”

On Sunday, a significant outbreak of the virus was linked to a music event held at the Royal British Legion in Nairn on November 27.

A small number of those cases were identified as the Omicron variant.

Nicola Sturgeon has warned of a potential “tsunami” of infections as she introduced new measures to curb the spread of Omicron.

NHS Lanarkshire has suspended all but “essential” visiting across its hospitals amid the rise in Omicron coronavirus variant cases and pressure on the health service.

Around 40 A&E workers at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride are self-isolating following an outbreak of the variant linked to their Christmas party.