Worried parents across Tayside have been offered reassurance by health chiefs following news of another school hit by coronavirus and two more cases at Kingspark School.
A pupil at St John’s RC Academy, in Perth, has tested positive for Covid-19 and the number of cases connected with Kingspark has risen to 38.
Single cases have also been diagnosed at St Clement’s RC Primary School, Ss Peter and Paul Primary School, Grove Academy and Happy Times out-of-school club, based at Downfield Primary School, all in Dundee.
There were also cases at Oakbank Primary School, in Perth, and Newhill Primary School, Blairgowrie, as well as at Newburgh Primary School nursery, in Fife.
Dr Daniel Chandler, NHS Tayside associate director of public health said: “Parents across Tayside may be feeling anxious as more positive cases are identified in schools, however they should be reassured that there is no evidence of transmission of the virus in schools.
“We are continuing to work closely with colleagues to ensure there is a swift and appropriate response to any reported cases to ensure pupil and staff safety.”
A number of close contacts of the St John’s secondary school pupil have been identified and told to self-isolate until Wednesday, which is 14 days since the last date of contact.
The North Inch Community Campus school, which takes in children from nursery to age 18, remains open.
Dr Chandler said: “Parents of the wider school and nursery population have been reassured that if they have not been contacted individually, their child has not been identified as a contact of a case.
“They can continue to attend school and undertake other activities as normal.
“Risk assessments are being carried out, however, parents should be assured that all appropriate precautions and cleaning regimes are in place and the school remains open.”
Kingspark School
The two additional cases at Kingspark, which caters for children with additional support needs, are in community contacts. The number of pupils affected remains at three, with 22 staff members testing positive.
All staff and pupils are self-isolating and the school remains closed.
NHS Tayside highlighted the precautions taken in the region’s schools to limit the areas pupils access and the people they have contact with, in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus.
Advice
It also stressed that if parents have not been contacted individually their child can continue to attend school as normal.
Where Covid-19 is identified in a school, it said public health teams can identify who has been in contact with the person and contact their parents or carers to ask them to stay at home.
People were also reminded not to send their child to school if they have symptoms of Covid-19 and to arrange for them to be tested.
