Over 800 pupils tested positive for coronavirus
More than 800 pupils tested positive for coronavirus in South Lanarkshire last year.
Across the region, 108 of the 148 schools saw at least one positive test between August and December 2020.
However, council chiefs insist no pupils who tested positive caught the virus while at school.
Figures obtained from Public Health Scotland under freedom of information laws revealed that in total, 826 pupils across the region have tested positive.
All 20 of the region’s secondary schools saw at least one Covid-19 case among pupils, while 88 of the 128 primary schools saw a pupil test positive.
Under guidance issued by the Scottish Government in advance of schools reopening in August, a range of Covid protocols were put in place to keep staff and pupils safe.
These included enhanced cleaning, social distancing and mandatory face coverings.
As a result, in October 2020, a report to the council’s education committee concluded that none of the pupils who tested positive had contracted the virus at school.
Additional safety measures have been put in place from this month following updated guidance from the Scottish Government as children returned to the classroom.
Des Dickson, operations manager education, said: “Parents and carers were informed whenever a positive case was identified in any school. They were provided with reassurance that the risk to the wider school community was low and that was why the school was able to remain open.
“We were also able to reassure parents, carers, pupils and staff that South Lanarkshire Council had put in place all the recommended infection prevention and control measures and had a thorough cleaning programme for the building.
“In addition to measures (including enhanced cleaning, distancing, one-way systems and mask wearing) that were in place before the Christmas break, we introduced a number of additional measures to support the partial return in February.
“These measures included optional lateral flow testing for staff and S4-S6 pupils, which will also be rolled out S1-S3 following the Easter break, and enhanced distancing with the lower pupil numbers and staggered attendance facilitating this measure.”
Schools where at least one pupil tested positive between August and December 2020: Bankhead Primary School* Burgh Primary School* Burnside Primary School*
Cairns Primary School Cathkin High School* Cathkin Primary School Fernhill Primary School* Hallside Primary School* James Aiton Primary School Loch Primary School Newton Farm Primary School* Parkview Primary School Rutherglen High School St Anthony’s Primary School St Bride’s Primary School*
St Cadoc’s Primary School St Charles’ Primary School* St Columbkille’s Primary* St Mark’s Primary School Spittal Primary School Stonelaw High School* Trinity High School* West Coats Primary School Schools marked with an asterisk saw five or more pupils test positive between August and December 2020.