COVID 19 update for Orkney schools - as at 12 November

Papdale Primary School is set to reopen in full and Papdale Nursery in part on Monday 15 November.

This means all classes can now return to the primary school with appropriate staffing levels back in place.

The nursery will open to half the children on Monday and the other half on Tuesday, with the aim of opening in full, from Wednesday.

According to NHS Public Health the cases of COVID within the school has peaked and has been on a downward trend for several days now.

As we reported yesterday, the ongoing community-wide transmission of COVID-19 in Orkney is having an impact on a number of schools across the county.

However, the numbers remain very small, and these are being closely monitored on a daily basis.

Communication was sent to all parents and carers of pupils at Kirkwall Grammar School as a precautionary measure yesterday, Thursday (11 November), with the school reporting that as of today, Friday, there are 12 positive cases among pupils at the school out of a roll of just under 850. Two staff have had positive PCR tests and a further three are awaiting results.

NHS Orkney’s Consultant in Public Health, Sara Lewis, and the Council’s Executive Director of Education, Leisure and Housing, James Wylie, stressed the need for the community to rally and step up all measures to keep everyone safe, particularly now we are heading into the winter months and people are indoors much more.

The advice is:

• Good Ventilation – proper ventilation is crucial to keeping the risk of spreading Covid to a minimum, if meeting up indoors please ensure windows and doors are open as much as possible. (So maybe wrap up with an extra layer if you are visiting friends!)
• Face Coverings – face coverings are still required by law to be worn in most indoor settings. However, even if it’s not law in the establishment you visit, we still encourage the use of them if you can’t socially distance from those outwith your household.
• Hand Washing – as simple as it sounds good hand hygiene really is key to minimising the spread of infection. If you’re out and about Christmas shopping, please think about what you are touching before picking up lots of different items. Hand sanitiser should be used in between hand washing/when out and about.
• Regular LFT Testing – twice weekly LFT testing for those who are not showing signs of Covid helps us protect one another. If you have a positive lateral flow, you and your household must isolate immediately, and you must book a PCR test. We would also encourage everyone to log their test results online, whether positive or negative, again this helps paint of picture of the situation.

If you have symptoms of COVID i.e., a new or continuous cough, a high temperature or loss of taste or smell, you and your household must isolate immediately, and you must book a PCR test. If you have any symptoms at all, no matter how minor please do not undertake a lateral flow test but instead isolate and book a PCR test.

Ceri Dare, OIC Environmental Technical Officer (Public Health), is available for free advice and support around COVID-secure requirements and best practice in businesses and organisations. She can be contacted at Environmental Health, Orkney Islands Council, School Place, Kirkwall, KW15 1NY Phone 01856 873535 ext 2817 or by email.