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Parents and staff at primary school told to self-isolate after siblings test positive for coronavirus

The headteacher at St Paul's Church of England Primary School said two pupils had been confirmed as having coronavirus. (Picture: Google Maps)
The headteacher at St Paul's Church of England Primary School said two pupils had been confirmed as having coronavirus. (Picture: Google Maps)

Parents and staff at a primary school have been advised to self-isolate after two siblings tested positive for coronavirus.

The headteacher at St Paul’s Church of England Primary School in Bradford, West Yorkshire, wrote to parents to tell them the school had been informed two children who had recently attended the school “from the same household” had tested positive for COVID-19 at the weekend.

In the letter, Cath Palmer said both had now fully recovered and the school had followed guidance by informing all parents of children and staff who had come into contact with the pair and advising them about self-isolation as well as carrying out extra cleaning at the school on Monday and Tuesday.

The case comes amid an ongoing debate about whether it is too early to reopen schools to children.

Headteacher Cath Palmer wrote to parents to inform them. (Picture: St Paul's CE Primary School)
Headteacher Cath Palmer wrote to parents to inform them. (Picture: St Paul's CE Primary School)

Some schools have reopened but others have decided to remain closed. On Wednesday, it emerged more than two in five primary schools in England did not open their doors to more children at the start of the week.

A poll from the National Education Union found that 44% of schools did not admit any of the year groups suggested by Boris Johnson on June 1 – and in north-west England, only 8% of schools opened to all these year groups.

It is not yet clear how many parents opted to send their children back to school, but the NEU survey suggests that the majority (57%) of members expected at least 50% of eligible pupils to stay home.

Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, warned MPs that headteachers fear some disadvantaged children will never return.

In her letter to parents on Wednesday, Palmer wrote: “On Monday 1st June, we were informed that two children who have recently attended school, from the same household, had tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend.

“We are pleased to share that they are now well and have fully recovered.”

She added: “After liaison with Public Health England and the DfE we have followed our school response procedures: informing all parents of children and staff who may have come into contact with those affected and advised them of self-isolation guidance.

“Additional cleaning was carried out on Monday and Tuesday as an extra precaution.”

She said the school would remain open to key worker and vulnerable children in the same way it had been for the past 11 weeks and its planned phased reopening starting with Year 6 would start on Monday June 15.

In a previous letter, the head told parents that the school had decided to move its initial planned phased reopening for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 from June 8 to June 15 following an independent SAGE report published on May 28.

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