Fewer pupils isolating as city Covid cases remain stable

Fewer pupils and teachers in Wolverhampton are now having to self-isolate as a result of confirmed cases in the city's schools, latest figures show.

As of this week, around 500 pupils, teachers and support staff are currently self-isolating, down from over 3,000 a fortnight ago.

Councillor Dr Mike Hardacre, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “We've said all along that we will do everything we can to enable our children and young people to return to full time education, even as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

“There are currently around 500 pupils and staff self-isolating because of a case within their school bubbles, considerably less than towards the end of September when around 3,000 pupils were self-isolating.

“This is thanks to the quick response of schools, the council and Public Health England to cases as and when they are first reported, and the good work that is taking place to keep bubble sizes to a minimum so that fewer pupils and staff need to isolate in the event of a confirmed case.

“It's important that we all continue to do everything we can to keep our city's schools Covid-secure, and parents and children have a key role to play in this. Most importantly, if you or anyone in your household has symptoms of Covid-19, no matter how mild, your child should not come to school – instead, your whole household must self-isolate and the person with symptoms should get a test as soon as possible.

“If your child has to self-isolate because of a confirmed case within their school bubble, please remember that this applies to both school and other settings – your child shouldn’t mix with anyone outside the household, go on public transport or go out to places like shops or sports clubs or to exercise. The rest of the household doesn’t need to self-isolate at this stage, and your child doesn’t need to get a test themselves unless they develop symptoms of Covid-19.”

Adults are also asked to do all they can to maintain social distancing when dropping off or picking up their children from school, arrive at their allocated time and not wait around any longer than they need to. They are also urged to consider wearing a face covering, particularly if they are going onto the premises.

Meanwhile, pupils can play their part when they are in school by washing their hands more often, staying in their school bubble at all times and wearing a face covering if required. Secondary school pupils in Wolverhampton – along with staff and visitors – must wear face coverings in corridors and communal areas where social distancing is harder, unless they are exempt from doing so for medical reasons.

Symptoms of Covid-19 include a fever, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to the sense of taste or smell. People with any of these, no matter how mild, should self-isolate and book a test as soon as possible by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or calling 119. Do not go to your GP, pharmacy, hospital or school. Only those with symptoms should need to get a test.

Anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will be asked to share information about people they have been in close contact with recently.

The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus and on the council’s own coronavirus pages at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus. For full details of the local restrictions currently in place, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/restrictions.