COVID-19 response – Papdale Primary School

NHS Orkney Public Health and Orkney Islands Council continue to work closely on the widespread community transmission of COVID-19 and, to date, no major clusters have been identified.

In following Scottish Government and Public Health guidance “warn and inform letters” have been sent to parents of children in P3, 6 and 7 advising them of a potential situation at Papdale Primary School.

At this time (Tuesday 2 November) we can report that we have had four positive PCR test results and 9 positive Lateral Flow Test results among pupils and one positive PCR and one positive Lateral Flow Test results among staff members. We expect the number of positive PCR test results to rise as a result.

Forty children are currently absent from the school for a variety of COVID-related reasons, such as self-isolating or because they are symptomatic and awaiting a PCR test.

We have 440 P1-P7 pupils at Papdale – Orkney’s largest primary school – and at present the school remains open with contingency plans in place.

NHS Orkney official figures for 23-29 October showed 843 PCR tests were undertaken with 113 positive results.

NHS Orkney Public Health reiterated the need for everyone to continue to follow the guidance given the widespread community transmission.

An NHSO spokeswoman said: “Please continue to use lateral flow tests if you are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID and don’t forget to log these results online.

“If you have a positive lateral flow test, you and your household should isolate immediately, and you should book a PCR test.

“If you begin to develop any COVID symptoms (a new or continuous cough, loss of taste/smell or high temperature) isolate immediately, with your household, and book a PCR test.”

To book a PCR test please call 01856 888211.

School staff and secondary students are asked to continue carrying out their twice-weekly lateral flow tests and registering their results. These tests are available from schools, or can be collected at Boots the Chemist, Sutherlands in Stromness and Kirkwall and can be ordered online.

The Council’s Executive Director of Education, Leisure and Housing, James Wylie, said: “We appreciate that there will be a high level of concern among parents and carers of children at Papdale Primary School at present; something which we experienced recently within Stromness Academy. I want to reassure everyone that we continue – as we have done for the past 20 months - to follow Public Health guidance and to ensure all mitigating measures are in place to keep everyone as safe as is possible.

“We will continue to provide support for pupils attending at school and for those who are self-isolating. If anyone is experiencing any symptoms, then they must stay at home and follow NHS guidance.

“We would stress that it is vital for secondary pupils and all staff to continue participating in the twice-weekly testing, to log the results online 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 handwashing and sanitising.”

Unless exempt, current mitigations in schools are:

Hygiene, Ventilation and Face Coverings

• All hand and respiratory hygiene mitigations will continue to be encouraged, and an enhanced cleaning regime will continue to apply in buildings and vehicles.
• Windows should continue to be opened to maximise ventilation.
• Face coverings will continue to be a requirement at all times for all staff and learners in secondary schools.
• In all other establishments, adults will be expected to wear a face covering whenever they cannot maintain physical distance from other adults, children or young people.
• In primary schools, adults will also need to wear a face covering whenever they are moving around communal areas of the school, including corridors.
• Only pupils aged 12 and over will be required to wear a face covering when travelling on dedicated school transport.

Groupings and Distancing

• The grouping of pupils and adults into discrete bubbles will no longer be required, but assemblies and other large gatherings will continue to be kept on hold for at least six weeks.
• There will be no requirement for children and young people to maintain physical distancing between each other, although this will continue to be encouraged in secondary schools.
• The distance that adults are required to maintain from other adults, children and young people has formally been reduced to 1 metre, however schools will continue to encourage folk to maintain 2 metre distancing wherever possible.
• Pupils using dedicated school transport will not be expected to maintain distancing between each other, but there will remain an expectation that drivers remain at least 1 metre distance from all passengers.
• Parents and carers will continue to be discouraged from attending school premises except in cases where this is agreed with the school as being absolutely necessary.

Vaccination, Testing and Self-Isolation

• Adults and secondary pupils will be encouraged to take twice-weekly LFD tests and to record their results online.
• Any adult, child or young person who develops the symptoms of COVID-19, or who test positive must self-isolate immediately in line with NHS Guidance, and notify their school.
• Any adult who Is fully vaccinated identified by Test and Protect as a close contact of a positive case should self-isolate immediately and book a PCR Test. If the test result is negative and they remain without symptoms then they may return to school, whilst remaining vigilant.
• Any young person aged between 18 years and 18 years 4 months,  who is not yet fully vaccinated and who is identified by Test and Protect as a close contact of a positive case should self-isolate immediately and book a PCR Test. If the test result is negative and they remain without symptoms then they may return to school, whilst remaining vigilant.
• Any adult aged over 18 years 4 months, who is not fully vaccinated and who is identified by Test and Protect as a close contact of a positive case should self-isolate immediately and seek a PCR test.  They should continue to self-isolate for 10 days from onset of symptoms even if the test result is negative.
• Children and young people aged from 5 to 17 will no longer be subject to a blanket requirement to self-isolate for 10 days if they are identified as a close contact. Instead, they should self-isolate immediately and book a PCR Test. It the test result is negative and they remain without symptoms then they may return to school, whilst remaining vigilant. Children aged under 5 will be exempt from this testing.
• Schools and Early Learning Childcare settings will not be required to stand down classes in the event of a positive case being identified.  They will, instead, send parents and staff a ‘warn and inform’ letter advising them of the facts and reminding them that there is no need to self-isolate unless contacted by Test and Protect and advised otherwise.

The Chief Medical Officer advises that children and young people on the highest risk list can now follow that same advice as the rest of the population.