By Gavin Mackintosh
A member of staff at a Bath primary school is being tested for coronavirus, The Eye Of Media.Com has heard.
The staff member from Bathford Church School on Dovers Park had recently returned from Northern Italy over half term healthy but has since become ill. Her illness has caused concern among some of the staff, but she is self isolating and being tested for the virus in line with advice from Public Health England the staff member is self isolating and being tested for the virus.
Results about the testing is not expected to be known for 72 hours after the test and the school is still open today. The situation was brought to the attention of this publication by a parent who is friendly with one of our own staff and was worried about the potential risks of the school remaining open.
”The parent who insisted on anonymity said: ”schools closing is ever an ideal or desirable scenario for any parent who would rather have their child being educated, besides the inconvenience of a parent having to take time off work to look after them or arrange for an adult to be present in their[the parent] absence.
However, the risk of this virus spreading fast through others who may catch it is the worrying thing, especially if schools are told to stay open”.
Headteacher Karen Sykes told The Eye Of Media.Com:
“The staff member visited Northern Italy over half term but did not visit a critical zone. They were in good health on their return to the UK and none symptomatic at first, but flu like symptoms unfolded gradually. The staff member was present in school for a week but has now self isolated.
Asked why the school remain opens, she said:
“We have followed standard guidelines from the government and continue to open. Also, children are less likely to contract the virus”.
Under guidelines from the Department Of Education, in the absence of close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus, the rest of the school does not need to take any precautions or make any changes to their own activities , and should attend educational establishments or work as usual, unless they become unwell.
If they become unwell they will be assessed as a suspected case depending on their symptoms. This advice applies to teaching staff and children in the rest of the class who are not in a close friendship group or children undertaking small group work.
FAILING
The failing of this advice from the government appears to be the the risk of waiting for a confirmed case before a school is asked to close. It would seem to be negligent advice in a case where someone experiencing some flu like symptoms has recently returned from a country known to be experiencing a pandemic of coronavirus.
Last week Law fir Baker Mckenzie sensibly shut down its offices after one of their staff who recently returned from Italy exhibited flu like symptoms. It re-opened on Monday after the staff member tested negative.
The Department Of Education and PHE England were contacted by phone for comment, but said they have been inundated with requests and needed time to address our query.