Primary school shuts and children and staff go into quarantine after catering worker tests positive for coronavirus
A primary school has been forced to close for two weeks after a member of the ‘external catering team’ tested positive for coronavirus.
Staff and parents at Epsom Primary School in Surrey were warned about the positive test and were advised to go into self isolation for two weeks.
Public Health England said anyone who had school dinners should go into self isolation as a precaution.
Epsom Primary School in Surrey, pictured, was forced to close for two weeks after a member of the external catering team tested positive for Covid-19
The school was forced to close less than two weeks after Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 students have been returning to the classroom.
For those who are not key worker children or vulnerable children, it would have been the first time since lockdown.
Head teacher Michelle Pollard said: ‘As head teacher, I am disappointed for our families that we have had to take these measures at a time when some normality was returning for our children.
‘However, I have a duty to mitigate any known risk, however low, to our children or our staff. We would all rather be in school this week, but after seeking advice from Public Health England, it was recommended that children self-isolate as a precaution.
‘Although the positive COVID-19 test was not a member of school staff, we have to put our children’s safety first and minimise the possibility of a local outbreak in our community.’
Parents were reassured by the school that the risk of infection was ‘low’.