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Feb 2021

Last Updated: 02/02/2021

Health

Union's covid concerns about army recruits returning to Harrogate

by Calvin Robinson

| 02 Feb, 2021

Unison North Yorkshire is worried soldiers moving around the country could spread covid to fellow recruits and their families. The Ministry of Defence said 40 personnel in Harrogate have tested positive.

The Army Foundation College in Harrogate.

A trade union has said it still has concerns about young soldiers from around the country spreading covid when they return to the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.

Unison North Yorkshire last week called for a halt to any new recruits joining the college until covid safety is guaranteed.

Shadow Armed Forces minister Stephen Morgan sought similar assurances after hearing there had been more than 100 infections.

The Ministry of Defence said fewer than 40 of the 2,000 personnel working and training at the college on Penny Pot Lane had tested positive for covid and none required medical treatment.

It added trainee soldiers would remain at the college over half-term.

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Union leaders welcomed the MOD's statement but still have fears about the ongoing impact of the movement of recruits in January.

A spokesperson for Unison North Yorkshire said:

“The MOD has still not provided answers as to why they thought it was appropriate to move hundreds of young recruits to Harrogate from across the country during a lockdown.

“Thankfully the MOD have confirmed that none of the young soldiers are seriously ill with covid, but that is a point that we have never raised.

"We know that young, healthy recruits would not be expected to get ill. We also know that a third of people with covid do not have symptoms.

"Our concern is that our members come into contact with young people from across the country who may have covid, then our members are the ones who take it home to their families and communities.”

Junior soldiers returning to training last month were tested twice with lateral flow tests, which are used to test people who may be asymptomatic.

The MOD said those who tested positive isolated at a purpose built 96-bed accommodation unit for the mandated period of time.

A MOD spokesperson said:

“Fewer than 40 personnel at the Army Foundation College are isolating after testing positive for covid. None of these individuals currently require medical treatment and it is incorrect to suggest we are not coping with the situation.

“The British army takes the health and wellbeing of our personnel very seriously and have been providing lateral flow testing, robust social distancing and hygiene measures in place to protect personnel and prevent further infections.”

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Union's covid concerns about army recruits returning to Harrogate

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