Thousands of pupils and hundreds of staff are currently infected with Covid as cases in schools continue to soar.

So far this week, 439 staff and 2,899 pupils have tested positive for the virus across 128 educational settings in Wiltshire, the council has confirmed. 

Primary schools are particularly affected.

Wiltshire Council says it has taken steps to support schools dealing with outbreaks, including sending an updated South West Directors of Public Health consensus statement to reaffirm the guidance in place.

In the event of a potential outbreak, schools should continue to apply the Department for Education (DfE) thresholds for accessing support.

If the threshold is met, schools should:

  • Communicate awareness and advice on symptoms, testing, isolation, and close contacts. 
  • Ensure robust infection prevention and control, focussing on touch points and shared equipment.
  • Consider activities that can move outside, particularly those with students and staff together.
  • Continue all efforts on testing. Examples are included in the DfE participation toolkit.
  • Ensure good ventilation

Schools are risk assessed on an individual basis.

Rachel Kent, Wiltshire Council Consultant in Public Health, said: “At this stage of the pandemic, nearly two years in, schools and education settings are very experienced in dealing with COVID-19 as they continue to respond effectively to the daily logistical challenges the virus brings.

"They have adapted so well to the continuty pressures that occur when pupils and staff get COVID-19 and we thank them once again for everything they’re doing.

“Cases are particularly high in primary school aged children at the moment and we expect the challenges to continue this term.

“We know it can be a frustrating and worrying time for families when their children have to self-isolate or additional measures are introduced that impacts school life and their education. But now more than ever, those who work at these settings, and the public health professionals working with them, need the support of the entire school community as it can’t be over-emphasised how challenging it is to manage a nursery, school or college amid an ongoing pandemic.

“We hope our South West consensus statement reaffirms to schools and education settings that, just as we have done throughout the pandemic, we’ll continue to work with them side-by-side and navigate our way through this together.”

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