Eden Council has alerted residents who have recently visited a Penrith pub to get themselves tested for Covid-19.

The Station Hotel in Penrith has informed Eden Council that one of its recent customers has now tested positive for Covid-19.

Anyone who visited The Station Hotel on Saturday or Sunday July 25 and 26, at any point throughout the day is being urged to arrange for a Covid-19 test.

Contact tracers in the area are continuing to piece together the movements and contacts made by a group of people who visited pubs in Penrith on this weekend in question - some of whom subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.

Colin Cox, Cumbria County Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “We are taking a robust approach to this situation because we want to get a grip as quickly as possible. When people are out socialising in pubs there’s inevitably less certainty about what people have done and who they have been in contact with so the approach we are taking reflects that.

“I want to stress that this situation is no reflection on the pub listed and provided pubs follow good hygiene practices, the risk of transmission after the times these people visited is low.”

“In this instance, the pub completed thorough risk assessments in time for opening on 4th July and implemented resulting safety measures to keep all staff and customer safe. The pub operated within government guidelines, but it has been found that some pub-goers did not use the track and trace app as directed."

Mr Cox also urged anyone visiting a pub, cafe or restaurant to leave accurate contact details, should the county's contact tracing team need to get in touch.

"Last week we explained that up to 20 per cent of contact numbers left at the venues in Carlisle and Eden were either false, incorrect or not legible. This information is absolutely vital to our efforts to stop the spread of the virus.”

Testing is available in Carlisle at Brunton Park until Wednesday 29 July from 10am to 3pm, and at Penrith Rugby Club seven days a week.

People can book a test or order a home testing kit at: https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test. NHS staff affected should arrange testing via their employer.

If testing slots are not available online, it is possible to attend Brunton Park without a booking by car or foot providing you are wearing a mask and observing social distancing.

It is crucial for anyone who tests positive to contact the COVID-19 call centre on 0800 783 1968 to help in important local tracing efforts.

The key public health messages remain:

• Wash or sanitise hands regularly

• Observe social distancing rules

• Wear face masks or coverings in enclosed public spaces

• If you have symptoms, self-isolate and get tested

• Follow advice to self-isolate if asked