Contact tracing is being carried while some pupils are set to self-isolate after a person tested positive for Covid-19 at a Borders secondary school.
Education bosses have assured parents that the risk of onward transmission is low after a positive case of Covid-19 was identified at Hawick High School.
It has not been disclosed whether the person involved is a pupil or a member of staff.
In a joint circular issued by headteacher Vicky Porteous and Lesley Munro, the service director for Young People and Inclusion at Scottish Borders Council, it was confirmed contact tracing is being carried out and it was anticipated that a "small number of pupils" may be contacted asked to self-isolate, where it is determined that they are a 'close contact’ of the person who has tested positive.
The circular issues to parents and carers said: “At this time the advice from NHS Borders’ Public Health team is that the risk of onward transmission remains low and all necessary procedures are in place in the school to minimise further spread of infection. Pupils required to self-isolate will be supported with home learning.
“There is no reason for any other member of the school community to self-isolate or to seek a Covid-19 test unless they are displaying symptoms.
“For reassurance, additional, enhanced cleaning over and above our already enhanced normal cleaning programme has been carried out.
“The school will remain open and is a safe place for pupils to learn.
“We have all necessary risk assessments, processes and procedures in place to keep the school Covid-free and we would simply ask that you continue to remain vigilant for Covid-19 symptoms in your household.”
The statement went on: “We can reassure you that the situation will be monitored closely and we will work with NHS Borders to ensure that the most appropriate advice and updates are provided.”
It comes just a day after six residents and a member of staff at a care home in the Borders town tested positive for coronavirus.
The diagnoses have come at Deanfield Care Home in Hawick, which is home to 20 residents, according to NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council.
In a statement issued on Monday, a spokesman said: "SB Cares, working closely with NHS Borders, is supporting the residents, their families and staff at this time.
"As a precaution, visiting at Deanfield has been suspended for the time being.
The NHS Borders region has placed into Level 2 of the new five-tier lockdown system.
The system, which came into force on Monday in a bid to curb coronavirus across Scotland. The system runs from Level 0 (allowing the most freedoms) to Level 4 (the strictest rules).
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel