SIXTY TWO children have been told to self-isolate after a staff member working at leisure centres in Salisbury and Calne tested positive for Covid-19.

Wiltshire Council says it is taking precautionary measures at Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury and Calne Community Centre after a leisure services staff member that worked at both sites delivering swimming lessons tested positive for Covid-19.

As a result 62 children who have been taught by this staff member and identified as close contacts have been asked to self-isolate.

The council says the self-isolation of the children is "precautionary to minimise the risk of onward transmission of the virus, and all those affected have been contacted".

It added that both Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre and Calne Community Campus have ensured high standards of hygiene and social distancing are maintained and all the necessary measures are in place to allow the sites to remain open for members of the public to use safely.

Both sites have been deep cleaned and no services at either site have been affected – both sites are open as normal.

Councillor Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Libraries, said: “The safety of people using Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre and Calne Community Campus is of the utmost importance to us.

"The sites can remain open and customers can feel confident to visit.

"We have contacted the customers affected, and are grateful to them and their families for their understanding during these unprecedented times.

"We will continue to keep customers updated throughout.”

Rachel Kent, Consultant in Public Health, Wiltshire Council, said: “One employee, who worked at both Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre and at Calne Community Campus, has tested positive for COVID-19.

"Both centres have followed all the correct procedures and have been deep cleaned.

"We have been working closely with colleagues from Leisure Services to ensure good control measures have been implemented, and all swimming lessons at all Wiltshire Council centres are being delivered in accordance with Swim England’s COVID secure guidance.

“The case has been managed appropriately and all contacts identified are now self-isolating, in line with government guidance.”

“We would like to reassure people using both of these leisure facilities that robust mechanisms have been in place to contain the infection and the two sites can remain open to the public to use safely.”