More schools in Scotland close over fears as number of virus cases climbs

More Scottish schools have closed as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise.

Deep cleans were carried out on some buildings as 171 positive tests were reported by 2pm on Monday in Scotland.

A decision was made over the weekend to close Dunblane High School to all pupils and staff after a pupil tested positive for Covid-19.

Two primary schools in the Highlands will be closed from Monday “until further notice” after a pupil and staff member took ill.

A statement from the local authority said: “Knockbreck Primary School, and Craighill Primary School, Tain are to be closed from today until further notice.

“A pupil and a member of staff were taken ill over the weekend and the circumstances have been assessed by the NHS and the council.

“There is no evidence at this stage that this instance is related to Covid-19, however, the decision has been made as a precautionary measure, based on a number of factors and on liaison with public health. The usual school closures procedures have been followed.”

Perth and Kinross Council said “an individual” from Perth High School is self-isolating for symptoms but had not yet been tested. The school tweeted: “An individual at Perth High is currently staying at home as they have symptoms consistent with coronavirus.

“They have not been tested but as a precaution we will be conducting a deep clean of the school. This will take three days and the school will reopen to pupils on Thursday.”

In Aberdeen, Glashieburn Primary School and Hazlehead Academy were closed for precautionary cleaning but are due to reopen on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Willowbank School in East Ayrshire was closed but is expected to reopen on Wednesday.

Shetland Islands Council previously said some of its schools would be closed for all of this week, with 11 cases reported in the area.

Authorities said the question of whether to close schools remains under review but that children do not seem to be severely affected by the virus, while shutting schools would also pose childcare issues for parents.

Scotland’s chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said if all schools were to shut it would need to be for a minimum of three months to “really suppress the spread of the virus in these types of institutions”.

At a briefing in Edinburgh she said: “The thought that children would not mix together for three months is impossible and we therefore risk having children congregating in other areas together, the virus spreads again so we actually have measures put in which are ineffective in keeping the virus from people.”