School is to bring back masks after Covid cases
A SCHOOL will introduce additional safety measures after a number of students tested positive for Covid-19.
Ivanhoe College, in Ashby, confirmed in a letter sent to parents and carers it would be reintroducing maskwearing at school.
The letter, which was shared with the Mercury by a parent, said a number of students had tested positive for the virus, “across all year groups” and are isolating.
As a result, the school announced it would be asking students to return to wearing face masks in communal areas.
From today, students will be expected to wear a mask before entering the school building, when moving around the school between lessons and within indoor dining areas when they are not eating.
The new measure will not be extended to classrooms and teaching will continue as normal.
In the letter, head teacher Alison Allford said: “The Local Health Protection Team have confirmed we are not at the stage of requiring face masks in lessons, though students who choose to wear them in classes may do so, as some students have chosen to since the start of term.
“Please note if your child was exempt from wearing one last term you do not need to contact the school as we are aware.”
Students will be asked to sanitise their hands more regularly and “busy touchpoints” around the school will be cleaned more frequently.
The additional measures are set to be reviewed at the end of September.
A reminder to students was also made to continue twice-weekly lateral flow testing.
Ms Allford: “I appreciate you may find the introduction of further risk mitigation measures concerning.
“Please be reassured we are continuing to monitor the situation and will write to you again if we are advised to take any further steps.”
Leicestershire County Council’s director of public health, Mike Sandys, said last week over half of the cases in the county are among under 20s.
He said there are “particularly high rates in secondary schools” but that this would be expected anywhere that people mix.
“To some extent, what we’re seeing at the moment will be reflected across the country,” he said.
COVER UP IN COMMUNAL AREAS, PUPILS REQUESTED