Health officials insist Fife is a ‘well-oiled machine’

Health officials in Fife have insisted the region is well prepared to deal with any outbreak of coronavirus as it was confirmed a Levenmouth woman who had symptoms has tested negative.

At the health and social care joint integration board (IJB), members were told the region’s preparations for coronavirus were considered among the best in the country.

An undisclosed number of community-based tests have been carried out since specialist laboratories were set up in Fife on February 10.

The woman from Levenmouth was placed in quarantine for 14 days after developing an illness upon her return from Singapore, but swabs taken from her at home and examined by experts in Edinburgh have revealed no trace of coronavirus.

Lynn Barker, interim associate nurse director, told IJB members Fife is a “well-oiled machine”.

She said: “Every Wednesday we’ve had a Fife-wide group meeting to discuss preparations. We have plans in place for a community testing team.”

Paul Madill, a public health consultant at NHS Fife, said: “We have identified risk groups and had meetings with St Andrews University for overseas students, and we’re having regular meetings with Health Scotland.

“Fife was an early adopter of the community testing approach, which has been praised by other parts of the country.

“It means that people don’t have to go into hospitals and can remain in isolation until they’re given the all clear.”

The Courier understands surgeries across Fife have been supplied with face masks for staff who may have concerns but these are not being widely used.