Going with the flow….

Schools in Orkney are asking for your help

While staff really enjoy hearing from you, the number of calls around COVID testing is making things a little tricky.

And we want to bust a myth or two surrounding the testing process, which will hopefully reassure you.

If a pupil records a positive lateral flow test you should:

• Stay home and self-isolate with your family and request a PCR test.

If a pupil records a positive lateral flow test the school should:

• Remain vigilant for symptoms in other pupils.

If a pupil’s subsequent PCR test comes back positive then the pupil should:

• Self-isolate

If a pupil records a positive PCR test then the school will:

• Send out a “warn and inform” letter to all staff and the parents of classmates.
• Identify close contacts of the positive case and pass on details to Public Health.

As schools returned after the summer holidays, with folk heading off and visitors coming to Orkney, it was anticipated there would be a rise in the number of cases. Thankfully, it remains relatively low in Orkney but everyone needs to remain vigilant.

We would stress that it is vital for secondary pupils and all staff to continue participating in the twice-weekly testing and for everyone else in the community to stick to the guidance of wearing face coverings when inside, keeping the required distance from others and to maintain hand washing and sanitising.