The Island Sailing Club in Cowes has shut its doors voluntarily as a result of an outbreak of COVID-19 amongst staff, but the winter garden in a separate area of the site remains open.
Concerns were raised earlier this week that a number of cases had been traced back to Island Saling Club but diners were still being permitted to eat at The Winter Garden, which occupies part of the ISC site.
The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed it has been leading a specialist response to the outbreak, with fewer than 10 cases identified to date – not the 26 rumoured online. Council officials have also confirmed that the Winter Garden operates as a separate business and is unaffected by the outbreak.
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council said:
“The council and Public Health England have been leading a specialist response in relation to a confirmed Covid-19 outbreak among staff working at the premises of the Island Sailing Club, Cowes.
“Fewer than ten cases have so far been confirmed and the premises voluntarily closed on 19 December.
“The club had taken all necessary safety measures in advance of the outbreak and is following all subsequent actions for notification, self-isolation and test and trace in relation to staff, members and any visitors.
“Another business operating in a separate area on the site has not been required to close, and continues to observe all the necessary safety measures and has been working with the council and Public Health England”.
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The MSOA rate in Cowes is higher than anywhere else on the Island, sitting at between 200-399 according to the Government’s interactive map. Some parts of the Island are seeing no cases at all, whilst others are seeing an MSOA rate of anywhere between 10 and 199.
