Positive case at school

Pupils at Riverbrae School have been asked to self isolate after a person at the campus tested positive for Covid-19.

The news was shared with parents of children attending the school yesterday afternoon.

It is the first school case to be identified in Renfrewshire since the phased reopening of schools across the local authority area began on February 22.

The Linwood school caters for children with additional support needs and children with complex medical needs from nursery to S6.

But in a letter issued to parents by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, health bosses insisted it is still safe to attend.

Linda de Caestecker, director of public health, said: “Working closely with the school and local authority, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has carried out a careful risk assessment to establish a list of close contacts within the school.

“All close contacts are being advised to self-isolate as a precaution and being given appropriate advice and support.

“The school will work with parents and carers to minimise the disruption to learning for those pupils who need to self-isolate.”

She added: “Robust control measures are in place at the school to help reduce the risk of the spread of the virus.

“If you do not receive a further letter from public health or a phone call from the school to say your child or children is a close contact, then your child or children can continue to go to school as normal.”

Children in primaries one to three returned to classrooms across Renfrewshire full time from last Monday, with children in years S4 to S6 permitted to attend on a part- time basis.

Teachers and senior pupils were also issued with lateral flow testing kits to allow them to self-test for Covid-19 twice weekly.

Between January 6 and February 22 only children of key workers and vulnerable youngsters were allowed to attend school as usual.

In that time 13 schools and early learning centres also experienced either a child or member of staff test positive for the virus.