MASK wearing in communal spaces has been reintroduced at Lymm High School as a “sensible precaution” following a high number of COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks.
In a letter to parents, Headteacher Gwyn Williams said a considerable number of students were currently off school because they had tested positive on either a PCR or lateral flow device test within the last ten days.
Most identified cases were in years 7–10, with cases fairly evenly spread across these four year groups.
While only a small number of staff were currently away having tested positive, the school was starting to see a growing impact on teaching given the number of teachers having to take time off to care for their own younger children who have tested positive.
Mr Williams said: “We have seen high numbers of cases over the last week or two, especially in years 7-10. Following discussions with public health colleagues, we have therefore decided to reintroduce face coverings in communal areas.
“This seems to us to represent a sensible precaution at this particular time, providing greater protection whilst having a minimal impact on the children’s education.
Something like seven hundred 12-15-year-olds were vaccinated on site earlier this week, which can be added to the very high numbers of 16-18 year olds who have already had the vaccine and this gives us plenty of reason to hope these additional measures will only need to be short-lived.”
Meanwhile, parents and guardians are being asked to provide support with the following measures:
1. Please do not send any child into school if they are displaying any of the COVID symptoms, however mild (i.e. a new, continuous cough, high temperature and/or loss of taste or smell). They should stay home and arrange to have a PCR test.
2. Please continue to ensure all students take lateral flow tests every Sunday and Wednesday, even if they are well. These tests are aimed at identifying those cases who do not have symptoms and who may therefore be spreading the virus unknowingly.
3. We also ask that should your child show any broader respiratory symptoms (e.g. headache, fatigue, sore throat, sneezing), please err on the side of caution and ask them to take an additional lateral flow test. Please continue to monitor symptoms, and if they develop any of the three Covid symptoms (i.e. a new, continuous cough, high temperature and/or loss of taste or smell), please ensure that your child self-isolates and arranges to take a PCR test.
4. If anybody in your household tests positive for COVID, please ensure that:
• Everybody else in the household takes a PCR test as soon as possible
• Everybody in the household takes a lateral flow test daily, until the 10 day isolation period for the positive case has expired. If any of the daily tests are positive, the individual should
self-isolate and book a PCR test.
Earlier this week a Warrington mother of two young children, both suffering the ill-effects of COVID-19, who has been working on the frontline as a Consultant Respiratory Physician, wrote to her MP Andy Carter calling for action over the rapid spread of the disease in schools.
Dr Binita Kane and other local parents believe the spread of COVID-19 in schools is “out of control” and wrote to Warrington South MP, calling on the Government to introduce sensible precautions to help reduce the spread of the disease.
Concerned mother writes to MP calling for action over rapid rise of COVID-19 in schools
