Gibraltar Chronicle Logo
Local News

Tighter control measures after Albert Risso resident tests positive

Stephen Ignacio

A resident at Albert Risso House has tested positive for Covid-19, the Housing Department said last night after receiving confirmation from the GHA.
The resident is currently in isolation at home and will be monitored closely by medical staff, the Gibraltar Government said in a statement.
How the tenant has contracted the virus is currently being investigated, but initially it seems that the person could have contracted the virus via something that was handed on, the government said.
“After careful consideration and following advice from Civil Contingencies, the Housing Department and Housing Works Agency will, with immediate effect, implement a series of stricter measures and a semi lock-down in the four main pensioner blocks to avoid the risk of contamination and spread of the coronavirus amongst the residents,” No.6 Convent Place said in a statement.
“As landlords, our main priority is to protect the wellbeing of all our tenants and would like to continue to be as supportive as possible.” 
“It has come to the Housing Department’s attention that there are still a minority of residents of these estates not following the guidelines and measures implemented by Civil Contingencies and Public Health and therefore putting all other tenants at risk of contamination.”  
“In view of this, we have therefore implemented measures to reduce the risk of spread of the virus in all areas.”  
Starting Friday evening, wardens and security officers will be manning the main entrances to the blocks 24 hours a day.
All other entrances and exits will closed until further notice. 
As from Saturday, no one will be allowed into these residential blocks to leave goods at the doors of the residents.
Only carers and essential services personnel will be allowed access into the blocks.
Covid-19 support volunteers have been recruited to receive goods at the entrance to the estates from family and friends and will be responsible for the delivery of goods to residents after sanitising the goods.
The Minister for Housing, Steven Linares, said he had spoken to the resident concerned to wish them a speedy recovery.
“The reply was that of a concerned elder and naturally frightened,” he said.
“The extra measures our ministry has taken are to protect our tenants, [and] I therefore ask all residents to stay indoors and keep safe.”
Last night, residents were urged to stay indoors. 
“If any resident feels the need to come to the corridors to do some exercise, this should be done on their own,” the government said.
“It is not necessary to wear a mask as some have said on social media. Just follow expert advice.”
“Tenants are reminded to wash their hands regularly and follow the advice offered by Civil Contingencies and Public Health.”

Most Read

Local News

Man arrested after tunnel collision

Download The App On The iOS Store