Birchington Vale caravan park was due to undergo a deep clean tonight (March 12) following confirmation from Public Health England that a customer at the club house on March 7 has since tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19).
Caravan owners have received a message from site owner Park Holidays to advise them of the situation.
The message says: “We have today been advised by Public Health England that a person who attended an event at Birchington Vale clubhouse on Saturday, March 7 has tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19,
“We are therefore contacting everyone who may have been in the vicinity of this person to advise them of the situation and provide advice as recommended by Public Health England.
“We have been given assurances by PHE that the individual has taken the necessary precautions and that the likelihood of anyone else attending the event on March 7 contracting the virus is extremely low. They have advised that prolonged close vicinity contact of at least 15 minutes would be required before any serious risk of infection.”
Park Holidays say PHE is satisfied with the hygiene steps taken but an additional deep clean is being carried out anyway.
A spokesperson added: “The welfare of our customers and staff will be our utmost priority. We will continue to monitor the situation closely. Should any changes be necessary, we will communicate these to all those affected.”
It is understood that the affected person was a customer at the event and not a caravan owner.
Saga staff member
Saga over 50’s travel company is also working with Public Health England after a staff member underwent tests for Covid-19 (coronavirus) and is believed to have tested positive.
Although the company is not confirming which site the employee is from, it is understood to be the Thanet base.
A Saga spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues is our number one concern and we are working with Public Health England on an ongoing basis.”
The spokesperson said both Saga centres in Thanet and Folkestone remain open.
A Stagecoach employee has also been tested with a negative result for the virus.
UK picture
As of 9am today (March 12) 29,764 people have been tested in the UK, of which 29,174 were confirmed negative and 590 were confirmed as positive. Ten patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died.
There are 23 new cases in the south east, bringing the total to 83, and nine cases in Kent -up from five – and two in Medway.
The virus outbreak was upgraded from an epidemic to a pandemic yesterday (March 11). The Chief Medical Officers for the UK have now raised the risk level to high. The country has been moved to the ‘delay’ phase.
New advice
Speaking today CMO for England Chris Witty said people showing mild symptoms should self isolate for seven days. He said a new but continuous cough and a temperature at 37.8 or over would be indicators. He also asked people not to call 111 unless their condition deteriorates.
He said a package of measures were being considered but, at this stage, it was too early for social restrictions although the government expected to bring those measures in over the next few weeks.
It is estimated that the UK is still 10 to 14 weeks away from the peak of the virus.
New stay at home guidance also been issued. Find it here
