Staff member at Kilcreggan school tests positive for Covid-19

A case of Covid-19 has been confirmed at Kilcreggan Primary School.

Dr Ken Oates, consultant in public health medicine at NHS Highland, has written to parents to advise them and give advice.

The letter states: “We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with the head teacher and education service colleagues in Argyll and Bute Council.

“This is an evolving situation. Meantime the school remains open and pupils should continue to attend if they remain well. If the situation changes significantly then we will update you and provide further advice as necessary.”

The staff member was last at school on Wednesday September 9 and contact tracing is now underway – those who have been in direct close contact with the confirmed case will be asked to stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days.

Two weeks ago it was confirmed that two pupils at Hermitage Academy in Helensburgh had tested positive for Covid-19.

The Kilcreggan letter adds: “The school reopened for this term with appropriate control measures, including enhanced cleaning in place, in accordance with Scottish Government guidance, and these remain in place.

“As long as your child is well, and as long as other members of the household have no symptoms and are well, then everyone can all go about their normal business, go to work and school etc. Anyone who is well and has no symptoms does not need to be tested.”

If a child develops symptoms of Covid-19 or is confirmed as positive, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared.

Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and further information on testing can be found on NHS Inform.

Once a positive case is confirmed in a house, then all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

Household members should not go to work, school, public areas or use public transport.

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19) are recent onset of:

• New continuous cough and/or

• High temperature

• A loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)