St Anne's School in Alderney has closed following eight staff identified as close contacts of positive cases.
For many children in the Bailiwick it's the last day of term. For children in Alderney, that day has already happened.
Alderney's Public Health Services became aware late on Thursday night (15 July) of three positive cases of Covid-19 in the island.
Dr Nicola Brink, Director of Public Health, explains that islanders shouldn't be concerned.
"We expected and are fully prepared for managing instances of community seeding as we begin to live responsibly with Covid, and they are not of themselves cause for significant concern. We will continue with our significant efforts around contact tracing to help contain them.
"I don’t want the Bailiwick community to be concerned that any time we contact trace in an education setting, we will take the decision to close the school. That won’t necessarily be the case and will depend on the individual circumstances.
"The decision taken this morning was that a cautious approach was appropriate in this case, especially as it is the last day of term and the school was due to be open for a half day only. We will focus today on contact tracing and testing and provide further information this afternoon."
Ongoing contact tracing in the island has identified eight members of staff as close contacts. The decision to not open the school has been made.
Headteacher of St Anne’s School Martin Winward says it's a sensible move.
"We are contacting parents this morning to let them know that the school won’t be open today. I think this is a pragmatic and sensible decision given the circumstances and will hopefully reassure our local community as a result of the prompt action taken.
"While none of the three positive cases identified work in the school, eight members of our staff are now in self-isolation as close contacts of one of the positive cases, so it is sensible for us to close today – especially as it is a half day for the last day of term – so that Public Health can focus on further contact tracing and testing."
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