449 people tested for Delta variant in Omagh area

THE Public Health Agency (PHA) has confirmed that up until Monday, June 21, a total of 449 people were tested in Omagh, primarily in the Strathroy area.

They said that the early analysis of the results showed a total of 31 positive cases of Covid-19.

“All positive cases have been contacted and advised to self-isolate in line with public health guidance,” said a PHA spokesperson.

“Robust contact tracing has taken place to identify their contacts and ask them to self-isolate and get tested. Ongoing work is being done to identify whether any of these cases were likely to feature the Delta variant.”

Omagh town Sinn Fein councillor, Barry McElduff, said lessons needed to be learned, especially around liaising with community organisations and school and education authorities in the Omagh area.

He was speaking after parents leaving children to Christ the King Primary School last Thursday were unaware that testing was taking place in the church car park where they have been congregating in recent months.

“The lack of communication with regard to the probable presence of the Delta variant locally potentially created stigma in one community of the town,” he said.

“The community service team from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council should have been activated earlier and community leaders in Strathroy consulted in order to support and help the local community. Unfortunately, what we got was confusion.”