A staff member at a pharmacy in Hamilton has tested positive for the coronavirus, it was revealed today.

Management of People’s Pharmacy said it had been confirmed that a staff member at the Victoria Street branch was infected.

A spokeswoman for the pharmacy said the branch would close at 4pm today to allow all the staff to be tested.

She added: “As a precaution, any employee deemed a close contact of the affected individual has been asked to quarantine and will be tested.”

The spokeswoman said the People’s Pharmacy at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s acute care wing was not affected.

She added: “Our colleagues at that location were tested earlier this week as a proactive measure.

The spokeswoman said: “People’s Pharmacy recognises that, as an essential service, this is an extraordinary step.

“However, this measure will allow us the space to deep clean thoroughly and test all our colleagues.

“We also intend to revisit our working groups and pressure test our contingency plans to mitigate any future risks.”

She added that all prescriptions would be filled through the hospital branch while Victoria Street remained closed.

The spokeswoman told the public: “We would like to reassure you that no one will go without medicine – as always, our patients are our priority.”

Tamara Richardson, the vice-president of the People’s Group, said: “The management of People’s would like to first wish the affected employee, and their family, well during this trying time.

“No one wants to receive the news of a positive Covid-19 exposure.

“It is unfortunate that the period of relative calm has come to an end in our island and, as a community, we must increase our vigilance.

“With the rising number of cases on island, there exists the real and present danger of exposure in every interaction and we take this as a lesson to be mindful of our health, to manage and restrict our bubbles, and to revisit the stringent practices that kept us safe during the early months when the island first dealt with the virus.”

Ms Richardson added: “As always, we will work alongside the Department of Health and be guided by their regulations and advice.”