School hit with two cases of COVID-19
Two probable cases of COVID-19 have been identified at a Perthshire school.
Parents of pupils in two classes at St Madoes Primary have now been told their child should self-isolate for 14 days by the Incident management Team (IMT) set up to support schools.
The two cases are closely linked to a confirmed positive case.
Pupils in the P3/4 and P6 classes will be expected to remain in self-isolation until September 25.
The IMT says there is no evidence of transmission occurring at school, and St Madoes will remain open to the rest of the pupils and staff.
NHS Tayside consultant in public health medicine Dr Daniel Chandler said:“I would like to reassure parents that if you have not been contacted individually this means that your child has not been identified as a contact in the school, and they can continue to attend school and undertake other activities as normal.
“If you have other children at the school who are not in Primary 3/4 or Primary 6, they can attend class as normal and they do not need to self isolate. Similarly, other people in the household also do not have to self isolate.
“The IMT has carefully considered the situation at St Madoes Primary School and all appropriate measures have been taken.”
Perth and Kinross Council lifelong learning committee convenor, Councillor Caroline Shiers added: “I know that hearing about cases and being asked to self-isolate can be unsettling.
“I’d like to reassure people that public health officials and education staff work closely together, looking at the individual circumstances of each case, and the advice is a necessary precaution.
“Our dedicated teachers will continue to provide excellent learning online while classes are isolated.”
Carse of Gowrie ward councillor Angus Forbes said:“This is clearly a very worrying time for all the parents of children at St Madoes School but I am happy with the way this has been handled by both Perth and Kinross Council and NHS Tayside.
“It seems they have both responded quickly and professionally and I am sure that the classes will be back very soon providing the high quality of education that St Madoes School is known for.”
Further information for parents and staff is available at www. taysidecares.co.uk