Moray MP Douglas Ross has welcomed the news that two contractors at RAF Lossiemouth with suspected Covid-19 have returned negative results from the official NHS test.
The news was confirmed by UK Government Defence Minister Jeremy Quinn MP during a virtual meeting the Moray MP hosted between local community representatives and the defence minister.
Commenting, Douglas said: “It is clearly very welcome news that both these tests have proven negative, meaning the two individuals were not infectious with Covid-19. As I said on Tuesday evening when these suspected cases were first identified, it was important to wait for the official results. Sadly, some elected representatives chose to spread inaccurate and deeply damaging information without being in possession of the full facts.
“Volker Fitzpatrick has introduced extensive and comprehensive testing amongst the workforce in response to concerns from the local community and their ultra-precautionary approach is designed to keep both the workforce and local community as safe as possible, however, as these results have shown the two individuals were not in any way a risk given they are not active carriers of Covid-19.
“I’m grateful to the UK Defence Minister Jeremy Quinn for his urgent attention on this matter over the last few days. Our meeting with local community representatives allowed them to hear directly from the Government about how vital these works are to the base but also how we will continue to listen to the concerns of the local community and to work with them to reassure local residents that everything is being done to protect individuals and the community while this vital infrastructure is completed.”
Moray Councillor James Allan (Heldon & Laich) added: “I’ve had lots of communication with Group Captain Layden and Volker Fitzpatrick in recent days and I’m reassured by everything they are doing to minimise the risk to the local community at this time.
“We all marched to save RAF Lossie a decade ago and it’s excellent to now see the base bigger and busier than ever but it’s also right that we respond to local concerns and that is exactly what happened in this case.
“The meeting with Douglas and Jeremy Quinn allowed us all to discuss the works at Lossiemouth, what has been done to mitigate the risk, and what will continue to be done by RAF Lossiemouth and the contractors as these works continue.”
