Major coronavirus outbreak at Dundee school as 17 staff and two pupils test positive
SEVENTEEN staff members and two pupils have tested positive for coronavirus at a Scottish school, it's emerged.
Three other people in the community have also been infected after the huge outbreak at Kingspark School in Dundee.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
More than 20 Covid-19 cases have now been linked to the school, which was closed last week after six adults tested positive.
All staff and pupils have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days after the surge, with the school closed for a deep clean.
It comes as Boris Johnson issued a plea for parents to send kids back to school in September — warning that their “life chances” are under threat.
Parents, carers and siblings of children at Kingspark School have also been told to quarantine to help stem the spread of the killer virus.
COVID SURGE
The school has about 185 pupils aged between five and 18 with additional support needs.
NHS Tayside confirmed there had been single positive cases of the virus at two other schools.
One positive case has been linked to a primary school class at St Peter and Paul’s School.
Another has been connected to Happy Times out-of school club at Downfield Primary School.
And a child at Newburgh Primary and Nursery School in Fife had also tested positive.
One fearful mum said the case was "every parent's worst nightmare".
There's a lot of confusion and anxiety among parents I've spoken to about the situation
Dundee mum
She added: "It's a very worrying development and there's a great level of concern as you'd expect from parents with children at the nursery.
"I have been advised that my child is to isolate for 14 days from the first day they came into contact with the confirmed case, however older siblings will still be required to attend the primary school.
"There's a lot of confusion and anxiety among parents I've spoken to about the situation but we'll follow the advice we've been given."
A member of staff and two pupils at High Blantyre Primary School in South Lanarkshire have also tested positive for Covid-19.
Scottish schools reopened two weeks ago for the first time since March's lockdown.
CONTACT TRACING
England's deputy chief medical officer, Dr Jenny Harries, insists kids are at a higher risk of being in a car crash or having the flu than of coronavirus.
She warned the risk of infection at schools is probably highest between staff.
Britain's death toll hit 41,429 yesterday after six people were reported to have died.
Dr Ellie Hothersall, Consultant in Public Health Medicine with NHS Tayside, said "a detailed contact tracing programme" was launched after the Kingspark outbreak.
Cases were identified through the "concerted efforts of Test and Protect", she said.
Dr Hothersall added: “We must do everything we can to protect all of our communities against COVID-19 and that is why we have issued the guidance to self-isolate.
"By taking this action we are containing any further spread of infection.
“We know that this may cause anxiety to some parents and children but we must do everything we can to ensure we keep people safe.”
Paul Clancy, Dundee City Council Executive Director of Children and Families Services, said: “I would like to reassure families that this action is being taken to keep everyone safe.
"This is our paramount concern and we cannot be complacent.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.