Pupils Told To Self-Isolate After COVID-19 Alert

The new academic year hasn't got off to a great start for five Sittingbourne Schools in regards to the current COVID-19 Coronavurus pandemic.

Firstly, yesterday (Monday 7th September) a group of pupils and teachers were told to self-isolate after a Year 6 child tested positive for COVID-19 at St Peter's Catholic Primary School in West Ridge, after staff were informed of the case by PHE (Public Health England). Also on Monday two children at South Avenue Primary School's in Year 1 and 5 bubbles tested positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile staff at Highsted Grammar School had to write to parents today (Tuesday 8th September) to say they had been alerted by Public Health England (PHE) that "a number of our pupils have been in contact with a pupil that has tested positive for COVID-19".

Bapchild and Tonge CE Primary School in School Lane, Bapchild, sent letters to parents saying a child in Year 1 had come down with COVID-19. Head Christian Kelly wrote: "Having been informed late on Monday afternoon that a child in Year 1 had tested positive for COVID-19 the school has followed government guidelines, by contacting Public Health England and, acting on their advice, asked all pupils in the relevant year group to remain at home for the next 14 days."

Westlands Primary School, in Homewood Avenue, wrote to parents as well to say a case had been confirmed in their school with all Year 1 children being told to self-isolate.

Earlier today Public Health England (PHE) confirmed that the current coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the county satnds at 8658 in Kent and 1148 in Medway. This equates to a rate per 100,000 of population – 547.4 for Kent and 412.1 for Medway.

* The Public Health England figures are issued on a daily basis and are based on a national, regional and upper tier authority level. From 2 July, they include pillar one (tests carried out by NHS and PHE labs) and pillar two testing (tests in the wider community).