Scotland’s National Clinical director has told schools - as pupils began returning today for the first time since March - that they must be “super vigilant” for the symptoms of coronavirus.
Jason Leitch made the observation at today’s coronavirus briefing. Professor Leitch said that of the Scottish government’s five rules for stopping the spread of coronavirus - known as the FACTS and which include wearing a face mask and maintaining a two-metre distance - the most important for schools was to be alert to the symptoms of the virus.
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He said: “All five are important but today I think this one [self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms] seems to me to be the most important. We need to try as far as we can to keep the virus out of our schools and early years centres. The whole school community should be super vigilant for the symptoms.
“All schools have in place plans to deal with positive cases or an outbreak. Health Protection Scotland will manage any school outbreaks through our test-and-protect system. It is vital that everyone continues to look out for symptoms of the virus: a new continuous cough, a fever, or a loss of, or change in, taste or smell. Anyone who has symptoms or who has had contact with someone who has had symptoms should not attend school.”
At the briefing, first minister Nicola Sturgeon said the return of schools marked an “important milestone” in the crisis - although she acknowledged that most children would not have their first day back until later on this week.
Ms Sturgeon said that, while the return undoubtedly came with “some anxiety” for teachers, pupils and parents, it was nevertheless a “really welcome moment because we know the harm that has been, and will continue to be done, to children and young people’s education and wellbeing the longer they are out of school”.
Ms Sturgeon’s observation came just as the EIS teaching union confirmed it had lodged two collective grievances at Scottish Borders Council and Moray Council.
The union said the councils had put staff “under intense pressure” over schools reopening by failing to facilitate a phased return of pupils or a second in-service day.
The EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan warned teachers had indicated they were prepared to take industrial action over safety.
He added: “We will always seek to resolve collective grievances through dialogue but councils such as Scottish Borders need to engage with the EIS and not seek to bypass proper discussions by claiming a ‘corporate decision’ has been made.”
