Virus transmitted at city schools

Transmission of coronavirus has been identified at two schools in Glasgow.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC) has been carrying out contact tracing at Lochend Community High School and Hutchesons’ Grammar School, saying there is some evidence of the virus being passed within the premises.

It comes the day after the city had lockdown restrictions reimposed as the spread of a Covid-19 cluster was being linked to different households.

An NHS GGC spokesman said: “There is evidence of transmission of the virus amongst a small number of cases in school settings and this is being carefully managed.

“Control measures have been put in place and we are monitoring the situation.

“To respect and maintain patient confidentiality, no further details will be released.”

A pupil has separately tested positive for Covid-19 in an Edinburgh secondary school.

Parents and carers of children at James Gillespie’s High School have been sent an email confirming the case, but there is no evidence of transmission within the school itself.

The school was the first in Scotland to insist pupils and staff wore face coverings as part of efforts to combat the spread of the virus.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon later made this compulsory in secondary schools in corridors, communal areas and school buses.

Headteacher Donald Macdonald said in the e-mail the school was working closely with NHS Lothian’s Health Protection Team and a number of people were being contacted because they may have been in close contact with the pupil for a duration of time and would need to self-isolate.

A further email update will be sent out as soon as the tracking and tracing process is complete.