PARENTS have suggested a city school should close for a week to ease pressure following a Covid outbreak.
And Worcester News has been told more than 40 schools in the county are currently on support following a spate of cases of the virus, including a return of blisters.
Parents of pupils at Pitmaston Primary School have said they understand more than 80 children are self-isolating at Malvern Road school following the outbreak.
dr Worcestershire Public Health Director Kathryn Cobain said: “We have been informed of a number of positive Covid-19 cases in Pitmaston.
“Public Health Worcestershire is working closely with the school and additional action is being taken in line with the school’s outbreak management plan.
“The school remains open. Current Covid-19 cases have been identified and asked to self-isolate and we encourage anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19 to self-isolate and book a PCR test.”
A parent who wished to remain anonymous suggested Pitmaston should close now so all children and staff could help reduce the spread. The parent said in an email sent out late last week that parents were told there were 64 children and eight staff vacant, but on Monday morning they understood it had risen to “86 children with Covid 19 or is now.” awaiting Covid results”.
Another parent told us: “At school a couple of moms said Pitmaston should close for the rest of the week and all the kids would get a PCR test and work from home.”
Meanwhile, Worcestershire County Council says its Local Outbreak Response Team (LORT) has been “in contact with 41 schools in Worcestershire as of January 17 as they need Covid-related support”.
A spokesman for the agency said: “LORT continues to work closely with schools and offer support with appropriate additional measures.
“This may include reintroducing cohort groups (bubbles), which is the right approach for some schools.”
Kate Brunt, Chief Executive Officer of the Rivers CofE Academy Trust, which oversees a number of schools in the area, said: “It’s a mixed picture across the Trust.
“Some schools are being hit harder than others, they are coming in waves. All schools are fully open.”
Bryony Banes, Headmistress at Kempsey Primary School, said: “We have had some staff who have contracted Covid and some pupils. We were very lucky.”