Source confirms a new outbreak at the Fiennes Institute; contract tracing is reportedly underway by Ministry of Health

There is a reported COVID-19 outbreak at the Fiennes Institute, the government-run home for the elderly.

Rumours began to circulate on Wednesday, April 13, and REAL News received confirmation of the outbreak from a source who wishes to remain anonymous.

However, while reports say that 11 persons have been infected with the virus, the source was not able to confirm how many are residents or workers, nor the possible source of the infection.

The Ministry of Health has commenced contact tracing in this matter.

This is not the first time there has been an outbreak at the facility, and several fatal infections were said to have been contracted at The Fiennes.

Accordingly, questions are being raised as to whether strict protocols are still in place at the facility and are being practised.

A number of COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed and the wearing of face masks is now optional.  However, this remains a requirement in government-operated offices and many other private business places.

Over the past few months, COVID-19 cases have been declining; but in the past two weeks they have increased slightly, with 23 currently active cases.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne, last weekend, announced that he had contracted the virus but that members of his family had tested negative.