Fears of coronavirus outbreak after Gosport medical centre closes – with men in 'boiler suits' spotted
FEARS an outbreak of coronavirus had hit a Gosport medical surgery – after men in ‘boiler suits’ were spotted cleaning before the centre was abruptly closed – proved to be a false alarm.
Patients were put on high alert after a group of people suddenly became ill at Forton Medical Centre in White Place.
The surgery was briefly shut down around 2pm on Friday as a deep clean was carried out to make sure there was ‘no risk’ to anyone.
A surgery patient, speaking to The News as the drama was unfolding, said: ‘(It) looks like someone with coronavirus has been in. They’re cleaning reception in boiler suits, we’ve not been told why. But We’ve all been told to sit in a treatment room.
‘Pregnant women and babies have been in. I’m in the treatment room and there’s been about 20 people. I walked into the reception where they’re cleaning.’
The eyewitness then added: ‘They said it was someone with diarrhea and vomiting, but they should have put people’s minds at rest.’
The surgery was open as normal when The News visited the surgery late afternoon with patients – and some staff – claiming to be oblivious to the drama earlier.
A surgery employee confirmed there had been a brief closure after a family became ill and started vomiting and having diarrhea.
An NHS spokesperson confirmed the closure. ‘Forton Medical Centre was temporarily closed today to enable a clean of the surgery as a routine precautionary measure,’ a statement read.
‘The practice has reopened and patients will be advised if their appointment needed to be rearranged.
‘We apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused. Safety is our priority and we have been working with public health teams to make sure there is no risk to staff and patients.
‘Patients can still be seen at any of our sites across Gosport.’