Parents’ anger as school canteen Covid case revealed after pupils returned:
‘We didn’t know until after pupils were back in class’
CHILDREN were already in school by the time Ysgol Friars informed parents a member of staff had tested positive for coronavirus.
The Bangor secondary school sent out an email on Sunday night informing parents that the canteen would be closed due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
Parents were told to provide packed lunches for their children, but say the school did not tell them the reason why until around 11am on Monday.
A letter was sent out on Monday morning informing parents a member of the canteen staff had tested positive for Covid19.
In the letter, the school stresses “we have no evidence that this was contracted in school and the timescale suggests that it did not originate here.”
However, a number of parents were left angered by Ysgol Friars’ decision not to inform them of the coronavirus case until after they had sent their children to the school.
Dawn Thomas, whose grandchildren attend the Bangor secondary, said: “My whole family is so angry right now. My daughter is absolutely livid and said if they had told the truth yesterday she wouldn’t have sent her boys in.”
Ms Thomas added that the family is now thinking of returning the children to homeschooling.
A member of staff at St Christopher’s primary school in Wrexham also tested positive for coronavirus with the school announcing yesterday that it will be closed for at least two days as a result.
Ysgol Friars headteacher Neil Foden said the school acted in accordance with the latest guidelines - and urged anyone concerned to get in touch.
He said: “As a precaution, we have decided not to wait for the outcome of track and trace but have closed the canteen until further notice.
“It will be closed at break time. At lunch time, packed lunches will be served to Free School Meals pupils. All others will need to be provided with packed lunches by parents.
“Breakfast club will be moved to the hall but no food or drink will be provided. We will keep you informed of any further developments and when the canteen will be reopening.”
He added that the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff is “our top priority”.
“We are confident that our response to this situation has been in accordance with the relevant guidelines.
“If any parents or guardians have specific concerns or questions, we would urge them to contact the school so that we can discuss the matter directly”, he said.
A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a member of the council’s staff who works in Ysgol Friars’ kitchen has tested positive for coronavirus.
“As a precautionary measure, all the kitchen staff have been advised to stay home and to arrange a Covid-19 test. The school canteen has been temporarily closed so that a deepclean can be carried out with pupils asked to bring packed lunches for the time being.
“Ysgol Friars is working closely with the Council’s Education Department and Health, Safety and Wellbeing team to ensure that all appropriate measures are in place to protect pupils, staff and the wider community.
“The school remains open for pupils. In the meantime, anybody concerned that they or a member of their family may have Coronavirus symptoms should request a test immediately.
“Information about how to do so is available from https:// gov.wales/apply-coronaviruscovid-19-test ”