Primary school in Forest Gate confident infection has not spread after three Covid-19 cases
Elmhurst Primary School has confimed two members of staff and a child have tested postive for Covid-19. Picture: Ken Mears - Credit: Archant
A primary school in Forest Gate with three confirmed cases of Covid-19 has assured parents the infections have not spread and were caught elsewhere.
One child, a teacher and another staff member at Elmhurst Primary School in Upton Park Road, which has almost 1,000 pupils, have tested positive for the coronavirus disease.
As such, two “teaching bubbles” are self-isolating and those pupils are accessing remote learning for the 14-day isolation period.
The school says the child and member of support staff who tested positive are related to the same family cluster and the other infection is in another year group.
The child displayed symptoms during the school holidays and has not attended the school since it opened on September 3.
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Headteacher Sukwinder Samra said the school has managed the Covid-19 cases “efficiently and with transparency” and there has been “minimal disruption overall”.
She said the NHS Test and Trace team has confirmed the infections originated from outside the school.
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“As per the national guidelines, we have a robust school risk assessment in place and have taken prompt action to mitigate against the risk of further infection,” Ms Samra said.
“A deep clean of the specific classrooms and surrounding areas has ensued.
“All group meetings with parents have been restricted to Zoom until further notice.
“We are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England to ensure that preventative measures are in place in school, including enhanced cleaning throughout the day, more regular handwashing routines and keeping the integrity of the teaching bubbles to ensure that pupils do not mix during the entire school day.”
Ms Samra added the organisation of class bubbles has minimised further disruption and the spread of infection.
“Although it is worrying to have three positive cases, we can reassure our school community that these cases have not spread into the teaching bubbles at all; the infections are unrelated and have been tracked back to outside the school,” she said.
Staff have also been highlighting the importance of maintaining social distancing both at and outside the school.
