Two test positive at luxury Galgorm resort

Two staff members from Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort near Ballymena have tested positive for Covid-19.

The venue, which is set to host the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open next month, has confirmed that the staff, who were asymptomatic when they were tested last Thursday, have been self-isolating at home.

Confirming the outbreak, Galgorm said that the staff concerned had worked in back-of-house positions and did not have contact with resort guests. Both of them will be tested again before they return to work.

The prestigious property – which was one of the first in the UK to be awarded the AA Covid Confident Mark – was chosen to host the Irish Open event after plans to stage it at Mount Juliet in Kilkenny were scuppered by the Irish government’s requirements around quarantine for US visitors. Those restrictions would have decimated the field at the golf event. Instead, the Open will be played behind closed doors at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.

Colin Johnston, managing director at the Galgorm Collection, says additional measures have already been put in place at the hotel:

‘Last week, we moved to the next phase of our agreed comprehensive hygiene commitment plan, which includes increased random testing of team members who continue to operate within team bubbles,’ he added.

‘In addition, we are also the first company in Northern Ireland to introduce a Mistpal Cleansing Tunnel for team members and guests entering the resort for further safety reassurance.’

He also pointed out that there were deep cleans at the resort each night, temperature monitoring, hand sanitisers in all areas and an insistence on proper social distancing.

Adding that he considered the health and safety of all guests and staff to be paramount, Mr Johnston said:

‘…we are grateful for their continued support and also to those guests who have rescheduled their stay as a result of the robust pre-entry testing measures we have in place.’