Distance learning plans as Gwynedd fights Covid spike

SCHOOLS in Gwynedd may face a return to distanced learning as the county finds itself in the Covid firing line.

Residents were last week being warned to take extra precautions – even before new concerns were raised over the Omicron variant – as case numbers reach record highs.

In the most recent set of figures, the Bala & Mawddwy district posted a weekly infection rate of 1,848.8 cases per 100,000 people, the highest in Wales.

This figure is more than twice the Gwynedd average (868.7) and more than three times the seven-day national rate (521.0).

Such is the level of concern that school pupils in Bala are being asked to take Covid tests as soon as possible.

The headteacher of Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn wrote to parents after a “high” number of cases were found at the mixedage school.

From this week, all secondary learners are being required to wear a mask in corridors and in lessons.

“We hope this is a temporary measure, until the Covid cases decrease in school,” headteacher Bethan Emyr Jones said.

In Monday’s figures, Bala recorded another 25 cases in one day.

However this was topped by Caernarfon East with 46 cases, comfortably the highest number of any district in Wales.

The district has a seven-day infection rate of 1,699.9 cases per 100,000 people, the second highest in the country behind Bala. Other areas of concern include the Blaenau Ffestiniog & Trawsfynydd district, which posted 25 daily cases in the most recent figures.

Its seven-day infection rate is 1,432.8 cases per 100,000 people.

Not far behind is Bethel & Llanrug with 21 daily cases and an infection rate of 1,414.6. In fact, only four of the county’s 16 districts are below the national infection rate.

Covid cases are even rising rapidly in the Abersoch & Aberdaron district, which for a long time was the area in Wales with the lowest total number of cases in the country.

With 18 cases reported in the latest set of daily figures, its position as the “safest” place in Wales has been lost to the Anglesey district of Rhosybol, Marianglas & Moelfre.

School transmission is thought to be a primary driver of rising cases in Gwynedd.

The county council said “robust arrangements” are in place to keep pupils and staff safe.

A spokesperson said: “Whenever an individual in school is identified as a close contact to a positive case of Covid, a message is sent to the family to make them aware and to urge them to arrange a test immediately. “When a number of cases within a school year or class are identified, families are advised to arrange a Covid-19 test to stop the spread of the virus, be that in a testing centre or via the home PCR tests which are available to order.”

Students at Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn are being asked to follow Public Health Wales advice to take a PCR test as soon as possible, and a second in six days.

Positive results should be uploaded to the school website.

Lateral flow tests should also be taken daily for a week.

Gwynedd Council said specialist staff are working closely with schools to offer advice.

This could include a move to distance learning.

The spokesperson added: “When 25% or more of a school year or class are confirmed as Covid-19 cases, we advise that the class, or year, temporarily moves to distance learning as an extra measure to stop further spread.

“We fully appreciate that this may cause some temporary inconvenience, and schools are only advised to temporarily move to distance learning when the level of cases reach specific levels.

“Our aim is to keep pupils, and the rest of the Gwynedd population, safe from the effects of Covid-19.”