School is shut after FIVE teachers test positive for coronavirus with two more staff awaiting test results
- Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill, Suffolk, is shut as a ‘precautionary measure’
- Five members of staff have tested positive for Covid-19, two more await results
- The secondary school has said it hopes to reopen to pupils by Tuesday morning
A school has shut today after five teachers tested positive for coronavirus – with more members of staff awaiting test results.
Pupils had started to return to the Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill, Suffolk, last Thursday – but classes in years nine and 11 were due for their first day back today.
The school said in a statement that the closure was a ‘precautionary measure’ and it hoped to reopen on Tuesday.
Headteacher Andy Hunter said: ‘The safety of pupils and all those who work at the school is my biggest priority.
‘Obviously this is a huge disappointment after working so hard to get the school back up and running.
Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill, Suffolk, has closed today after at least five members of staff contracted coronavirus
‘I will be looking closely at the systems we put in place to try to understand how the transmission occurred and to make sure we do everything possible to limit the chances of the same thing happening again.
‘I am very disappointed by this disrupted start to the school term.
‘We have taken very extensive precautions.
‘We were delighted that term had started so well last week and were looking forward to the final two year groups starting (on Monday).
‘But I have had excellent support from Public Health England, Public Health Suffolk and Suffolk County Council.
‘We are determined to do all we can to stop the further spread of the virus and agree with the precautionary action to close the school (on Monday).’
A deep clean is to take place at the school.
Yesterday the UK recorded its highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since May after 2,988 were reported in just 24 hours
Anyone who has been in close contact with infected staff has been contacted and asked to self-isolate for 14 days, the school said.
Further contact tracing will continue and additional pupils and staff may be asked to self-isolate.
Stuart Keeble, director of public health at Suffolk County Council, said: ‘Understandably, this news may worry parents across Suffolk, but it is important to remember that the risk of children contracting Covid-19 is still very small.
‘Evidence suggests that children are more likely to contract Covid-19 at home.’