A council 'waste and cleansing' employee has tested positive for coronavirus, while three fellow staff are self-isolating.

South Derbyshire District Council has confirmed that the employee, who works in the department which oversees bin collections, tested positive for the virus on Sunday, 6 September.

The authority says the member of staff was sent home to self-isolate, in line with national guidance.

It claims one social media post referring to an outbreak among staff at the council's Boardman Industrial Estate Depot in Boardman Road, Swadlincote, is 'inaccurate'.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has been told by several members of council staff that at least three bin collection and grounds maintenance employees have tested positive for the virus.

They allege that further members of council staff and agency employees are self-isolating or have been advised to self-isolate while others have been told to remain in work unless they receive a positive test result.

However, a council spokesperson said that there has only been one confirmed Covid-19 case and that three other members of staff had been told to self-isolate and had received negative test results.

The member of staff who tested positive was not at work when they developed symptoms, the spokesperson said.

Staff also claim there is a lack of social distancing amongst employees, along with lax hand sanitising and general workplace cleaning at the depot. 

Cllr Martyn Ford, South Derbyshire District Council's Leader, said: "The council would not usually comment on inaccurate posts made on social media but, over the last few days, it is necessary to reassure residents and our employees who have worked hard to provide vital services during the coronavirus pandemic.

"A member of the council's waste and cleansing team tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, 6 September. 

"After receiving notification, the council observed all national guidance to protect our workforce and residents, including following self-isolation and testing guidelines. 

"We continue to follow national guidance to respond to the pandemic and ensure that all our services are delivered safely and we protect our workforce and residents.  

"This includes taking the appropriate actions when any symptoms of Covid are reported to us. 

"We strongly recommend that residents continue to follow all guidelines on good hygiene including washing their hands thoroughly or using hand sanitiser regularly, wearing face coverings where necessary and keeping to social distancing rules."

To date, there have been 488 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in South Derbyshire with 25 cases confirmed since September 6 – when the council says its employee tested positive – though there is a significant lag in data.

This is, in part, due to ongoing issues with testing and laboratory capacity.

Between September 7 and 13 there were three confirmed Covid-19 cases in 'Swadlincote East', which covers Woodville; three cases in 'Swadlincote North', which covers Midway; five cases in 'Swadlincote West', which covers Newhall and Stanton; five cases in Castle Gresley, Overseal and Coton; and between zero and two cases in 'Swadlincote South', which covers Church Gresley and 'Swadlincote Central', which covers the town centre.