Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Call to parents in bid to stem Covid
PARENTS have been urged not to send children to school if anyone at home has Covid19 symptoms, as fears mount in the Christmas countdown.
Amid concerns pupils have attended school when they should have stayed off, Grove Academy, Dundee City Council and Fife Council underlined the importance of isolation if infection is suspected.
Grove Academy rector Graham Hutton revealed on Friday that five people at the school had tested positive during what he called a “horrendous week”.
The Broughty Ferry school contacted parents on Monday, stating: “If there is suspected Covid in your household, do not send your children to school – self isolate! Get the person tested and if it is positive, then the whole household must self-isolate for 10 days. Only if the test is negative, can the pupils return to school.”
In the last full week before Christmas, Fife Council wrote to all parents in the region stressing the importance of obeying the rules to reduce the risk of transmission.
It also issued a reminder that face masks must be worn on school transport after reports of pupils failing to do so.
The council said most of the cases reported in pupils and staff had come from outside schools, with 26 new infections over just the last four days.
Carrie Lindsay, executive director of education and children’s services, said: “I am acutely aware we have all played our part for a long time now, but if you or your children come into close contact with a positive Covid-19 case in the next couple of weeks you will have to isolate as per government guidelines.
“Please take extra care wherever you are.
“This could mean you or some of your family are spending Christmas, New Year, or both periods in isolation.”
She also said: “We have had reports that some of our young people are either not wearing or are removing their masks on school buses.
“I’d appreciate if you could, please, try to get through to them the importance of keeping their face covered while on the bus.”