Parents have been warned of a likely increase in prevalence of common childhood infections now that schools have reopened.
NHS Fife and Fife Council urged parents and carers to be aware that after months in lockdown pupils may be more susceptible to catching common infections.
In a letter, Carrie Lindsay, executive director of education and children’s services at Fife Council said that she was “delighted” pupils had returned after months away but warned the usual viruses still remained in the age of Covid.
She said: “We need to remember that all the usual childhood infections are still out there too, like colds and sickness bugs.
“There may be an increased risk of catching these common, childhood illnesses after months in lockdown so please follow the advice if your child is sick.
“Following a bout of sickness or diarrhoea your child must stay at home for 48hours, from the last symptoms.”
The advice from Mrs Lindsay was reiterated by NHS Fife’s director of public health, who highlighted the responsibility parents and carers have in stopping stop the spread of these viruses.
Dona Milne said: “The physical distancing measures taken over recent months have helped to suppress the spread of Covid-19 as well as many other communicable bugs and viruses.
“With many of the public health measures now being eased, it is likely that we will see an increasing prevalence of things like colds and sickness bugs.
We need to remember that all the usual childhood infections are still out there too, like colds and sickness bugs.”
Carrie Lindsay, executive director of education and children’s services at Fife Council.
“It is crucial, therefore, that we all take individual responsibility to stop the spread of these viruses by practising effective hand washing, and in the case of sickness bugs ensuring that we remain at home for at least 48 hours after the last symptoms to break the chain of infection and prevent passing the virus to other people.”
Ms Milne also urged the public not to be complacent in the battle against coronavirus and pointed to the clusters seen in other other parts of Scotland as an example of why it’s crucial to follow the safety guidance.
She added: “With the prevalence of Covid-19 now much lower than it was at its peak, it is easy to think that the virus in no longer a risk to our health, however, that is far from the case.
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“As we have seen elsewhere in the country, there is still the potential for larger scale spread of the virus if we don’t continue to practice effective hand washing and follow the guidance around physical distancing and the wearing of face coverings.
“That is why it is so important that people continue to follow Scottish Government guidance if we are to continue to minimise the numbers of people contracting the virus here in Fife.”
