Seven employees at same school test positive for coronavirus after schools reopen across UK
SEVEN members of staff at the same primary school have tested positive for Covid-19.
Arboretum Primary School, in Derby, has shut after the positive test results for coronavirus.
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A spokesman for the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust confirmed the school had been closed because of “a number of staff having confirmed cases of COVID-19”.
He said all seven staff have only had mild coronavirus symptoms and are recovering at home.
But despite the Derby school’s setback, many primary school pupils finally returned today to the classroom for the first time in more than two months in England to resume crucial lost weeks of education.
How school will be different:
- Parents will be discouraged to gather at the school gates
- Classes will be halved to 15 students to help social distancing
- The Department of Education has also recommended that schools bring in one-way systems in corridors
- Some students have been told not to bring in any part of their uniform that isn’t washed regularly likes ties in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus
- Lunch and break times will be staggered
The Derby Diocesan Academy Trust spokesman told DerbyshireLive: “Following one member of staff reporting symptoms, the school quickly identified any other members of staff, parents/carers and/or children who may have been in contact and instructed them to isolate for the Government’s recommended period of 14 days.
“Since then, six members of staff have tested positive and four members of staff who were in contact have tested negative. There have been no reports of parents/carers or children displaying symptoms.
“The trust is pleased to confirm that all members of staff affected have experienced only mild symptoms and are recovering well at home.
“In line with guidance, the school has closed this week to allow a deep-clean to be completed and will re-open next week, initially to children of key workers and vulnerable children.”
It is understood the school has been open to key workers and vulnerable children from other schools, including Derby Cathedral School, since lockdown began on March 23, DerbyshireLive reports.
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A Derby City Council spokesman added: “The school will re-open on Monday, June 8 and all of those adults who may have been in contact with the affected staff have been informed.”
One local resident said: “I thought there was something wrong because this morning there were no cars in the car park and the school was shut.
“Recently, I have seen children going there and so it was odd that it was shut this week when schools are supposed to be reopening.”
