A third member of staff at Stokesley Leisure Centre has tested positive for Covid-19 — but bosses say the centre is safe to stay open.
Hambleton District Council has confirmed another staff member was found to have the virus over the weekend.
They are the third person at the facility to test positive for coronavirus.
The workers are now self-isolating at home in-line with government guidance.
Hambleton Today understands a total of eight staff at the centre are now isolating after testing positive, or being in contact with someone who has.
A source connected with the leisure centre said there was concern at the facility that Hambleton District Council was reluctant to release information about the positive tests to the public.
They added: “After a full-time staff member was sent home as a precaution, the centre continued to operate as normal, with children, adults, elderly and disabled using the centre.
“The case was confirmed as positive over a day later, meaning members of the public may have been exposed daily to the virus for potentially a week prior in the leisure centre.”
But director of leisure and communities, Steven Lister, said all procedures were being followed correctly.
“Every time a leisure centre member of staff tests positive there are strict national processes we are required to go through, which involves a comprehensive risk assessment on a case by case basis.
“As is our policy we consulted Public Health England and the risk assessment was completed at the weekend in response to this case and concluded all necessary actions had been taken to ensure the centre can continue to remain open at this time and be as COVID safe as possible.
“Please rest assured if there was any additional risk to the public from keeping the centre open we would close it without hesitation.
“Unfortunately, the reality is, with cases significantly on the rise in our district, as well as nationally, we can expect to see, and are seeing, increased cases in all settings, be it schools, workplaces or leisure centres.”
Mr Lister said the authority would continue to respond on a case by case basis taking whatever action was appropriate to keep the risk as low as possible.
He added: “Sadly at this point in time nothing is risk free when it comes to COVID but we are committed as a council to take every possible step to reduce the risk as much as we possibly can.
“We have strict cleaning processes and social distancing procedures in place to ensure we can offer a COVID safe experience in all our leisure centres and we will continue to take all the steps we can to keep all our facilities as COVID safe as possible.”
Hambleton District Council said information about the latest case and the cases last week had been posted on the leisure centre’s Facebook feed to make members aware.
“The NHS test and trace system will also trigger contact with any individuals who need to be aware and get tested or self-isolate as a result of any new case,” Mr Lister added.
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