More than 200 Perth and Kinross pupils and staff self-isolating

More than 200 pupils and staff are isolating across Perth and Kinross as the number of Covid cases linked with schools continues to rise.

Figures released by Pe r t h and Kinross Council show that a total of 213 pupils and staff in the region have been told to self-isolate since November 18.

There have also been 18 positive cases of the virus in schools – 15 pupils and three members of staff – across the region between November 18 and 24.

Cases have been linked to 10 schools and nurseries across the Perth and Kinross region during this period.

A total of 24 people have been told to stay home after two children tested positive at the Hone ypot nurser y in Luncarty.

Area manager Sheila Gordon said pre-emptive steps were t a ke n to contain the outbreak.

“As an early learning and childcare provider for the under-fives, we take our health and safety obligations extremely seriously,” she said.

“These measures have been stepped up following the outbreak.”

Ms Gordon added: “Part of the safe working practices we have put in place sees the nursery operating in small ‘ bubbles’ with children in our care equally allocated to each bubble.

“These bubbles work as a protective measure to help reduce potential transmission by keeping the same children and staff members together at all times.”

She said she was confident the case had been safely contained and stressed that other Honeypot sites at Perth and Almondbank were unaffected.

Per th Academy has seen the highest number of new cases in this period, with four pupils and one member of staff testing positive for Covid.

As a result, 25 people linked with the school are having to self-isolate.

This was followed by Portmoak Primary School in Kinross, which has seen four positive cases of since November 18.

These were two pupils and two members of staff, and as a result of the cluster, 25 people linked to the school are now having to isolate.

Kinross High School has the highest number of pupils and staff isolating, with 45 individuals told to stay home in the same period.

The council’s figures show that one Kinross High pupil has tested positive for the virus in this period.

Similarly, Crieff High School has 35 pupils and members of staff selfisolating after one pupil was confirmed as having the virus.

The Community School of Auchterarder (secondary) has 24 staff and children isolating.

Both Rosemount Nursery in Kinross and Perth Grammar School have 17 people linked with the campuses having to isolate.

They have each had one confirmed positive case of the virus in the period.

The Perth and Kinross figures come as it was revealed that there were more than 3,500 pupil absences across Tayside and Fife on November 24 alone.

Perth Grammar School has 17 cases linked to it.