The headteacher of a school at the centre of a Covid outbreak says pupils aren't showing the main symptoms of the virus.
Nineteen pupils and seven members of staff, including the head, have tested positive at Woodfield Primary School in Wigan. Remaining staff 'are working over and above their usual hours, covering for absent colleagues'.
In a letter to parents, the head Anna Prior put the large number of cases down to the easing of wider restrictions outside school and the transmissibility of the current dominant Omicron variant.
"Whilst we have continued with many of our measures in school, it appears that the removing of wider restrictions coupled with the increased transmissibility of this variant is now making it increasingly difficult to manage infection and transmission," she said.
"We have been in contact with the local health protection team and they are happy with the measures (and additional temporary measures) we have in place. We will continue to work with them to ensure the best balance possible between restrictions and ensuring a positive educational experience for all children."
She urged parents to test themselves and their children between now and the Easter break and warned that those testing positive aren't necessarily displaying the three main symptoms of high temperature, cough, and loss of taste and smell.
"Please be vigilant for any sign of illness," she said. "We are finding that many positive cases are presenting with general cold symptoms – headaches, runny nose, aches, sore throat – and not necessarily the three main symptoms.
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"Please test at any sign of illness and keep your children home. If children present with any of the three main signs (high temperature, cough, loss of taste and smell), please don’t rely on an LFT test. PCR tests are still easily and freely available at Chapel Lane testing site in Wigan and should be accessed for anyone with any of the three main symptoms."
However, with testing soon to come to an end, it's being warned that parents will soon find it 'nigh on impossible' for to know whether their children have the virus.
We reported yesterday how Dr Helen Wall, senior responsible officer for Bolton’s Covid-19 vaccination programme, said people will have no way of confirming the virus.
"Essentially any sick child could be Covid," said Dr Wall. "Less and less people are testing and soon tests will be a thing of the past for many, so is it or isn’t it Covid is going to be nigh on impossible for the majority."
She said poorly youngsters being seen by GPs at the moment 'appear to still be those with respiratory symptoms - cough, wheeze shortness of breath and fever'. But she said there are likely to be many more that they don't see as parents are becoming more at ease with kids being unwell, without necessarily putting it down to Covid.
If a parent suspects a child may have Covid, she urged them to test where available, but if not, 'keep away from elderly and immunocompromised until they're better'.
Only last week parents were being reminded not to send pupils with Covid or virus symptoms into school. While it's no longer a legal requirement for those testing positive to self-isolate, the guidance is to still 'stay at home' to help prevent the spread.
Health leaders fear that some children are being sent to school regardless, risking a surge in infection rates. At Woodfield, headteacher Miss Prior said the school is doing its best to manage the staff shortages.
Her letter added: "The biggest impact on provision comes from staff being ill and absent, and I’m sure you will be aware that there is a national shortage of educational professionals for both staffing and supply cover.
"Our very first priority is to ensure stability and safety in school, alongside maintaining educational provision, and we shall continue to do so. However, I ask you to bear with us during this time of reduced capacity in school.
"The staff team continue to be absolutely wonderful, rising to every ask of them, and many staff are working over and above their usual hours, covering for absent colleagues. I know you appreciate them as much as I do. Regarding yourselves and your children – please test regularly between now and the Easter break, and please be vigilant for any sign of illness."
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