Isolation for pupils and staff

A number of pupils and staff at Blairgowrie’s Newhill Primary School were asked to isolate recently following a small number of positive Covid-19 cases connected to the school.

Perth and Kinross Council last week announced that “fewer than three” youngsters and the same number of staff at the school had returned a positive coronavirus test results.

As a result, the local authority said a total of 60 pupils and seven members of staff have been asked to observe the Scottish Government’s isolation procedures and stay at home.

Released on Thursday last week, the total number of positive cases reported between June 2 and 8 within the region’s pupil roll as a whole was 19, while five staff members tested positive.

This means 330 pupils and 33 employees were asked to isolate themselves.

A council spokesperson said: “We take the safety of our children and young people extremely seriously and have robust risk assessments in place

“We have an established process in place to deal with any cases of Covid-19 in line with national and local health guidance.

“Whenever there is a confirmed case, pupils and staff who are identified as close contacts are asked to self-isolate as a precautionary measure.

“Pupils are supported to learn at home until they can return to school.

“For clarity, there would be no requirement for other pupils and/or staff to self-isolate where no close contacts of confirmed cases have been identified.”