NHS Highland confirms pupil at Millburn Academy in Inverness has tested positive for Covid-19 coronavirus
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A SCHOOL and health chiefs have moved to re-assure parents and pupils after a student at an Inverness academy tested positive for Covid-19.
Millburn Academy issued a statement yesterday after receiving confirmation from the NHS Highland Health Protection Team that an S4 pupil had contracted the virus.
"We know that you may find this concerning but we have identified all close contacts in school and spoken with their parents/carers directly, advising these pupils should self-isolate at home for 14 days from Thursday, November 5 until Thursday, November 19," said a statement on the school's Facebook page.
"All other pupils in S1-S6 can continue to attend school as normal if they remain well.
"Thank you for your continued support during these challenging times."
A letter has also been issued to all parents by NHS Highland's consultant in public health medicine, Dr Ken Oates. In it, he added: "We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with the head teacher.
"The affected pupil was last at school on Thursday, November 5. Contact tracing is now under way.
"Pupils who have been identified as close contacts during the school day will be contacted directly and should self-isolate at home for 14 days from November 5 until November 19. They can return to school on Friday, November 20."
He added that all other pupils can attend school "as normal" so long as they remain well.
"As long as your child is well, and as long as other members of the household have no symptoms and are well, then everyone else in the house can all go about their normal business, go to work and school etc," he continued. "Anyone who is well and has no symptoms does not need to be tested.
"Hopefully this will not happen but if your child, or any of your household, develops symptoms a test should be booked as soon as possible. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and further information on testing can be found on NHS Inform.
"The whole household should isolate if anyone in the household develops symptoms. If a positive case is confirmed in a house, then all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
"Household members should not go to work, school, public areas or use public transport.
"Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.
Click here for more information about those who need to self-isolate.
