Parent worried by school’s handling of coronavirus

TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW CASES IN GREATER GLASGOW:

A PARENT at a Gorbals school has criticised education bosses for their handling of a Covid- 19 outbreak.

Contact tracing is now under way at Blackfriars Primary with the Glasgow Times understanding that one pupil tested positive for the virus this week.

Staff have moved to reassure parents there is no wider threat to youngsters in the Cumberland Street building, but the mum, whose daughter has health issues, believes her concerns have not been listened to.

The parent, who asked not to be named, said: “The kid should have been self- isolating as they believe they picked it up over the weekend.

“But they have been sent to school by their parents when they shouldn’t have been.

“My daughter has health issues and of course you are worried about what might happen.

“When I asked about this, I was told quite clearly I can’t take her out of school, even because of this, and it will be marked down as an official absence. I just can’t understand that.”

The school is just a stone’s throw away from St Francis Primary, which has been hit by its own Covid- 19 cases in recent weeks.

While Glasgow City Council chiefs insist Blackfriars is safe, the mum admits she still has her concerns.

She added: “If we need to self- isolate and work from home, we are not prepared for it and that is the worry.”

A council spokeswoman said: “The school has been working closely with our public health experts and Test and Protect who are confident that there is now no requirement for anyone in the school to self- isolate. The families are being updated.”