A number of students are self-isolating after cases of COVID-19 were recorded at Wigmore School in Herefordshire.
A letter/email sent to parents said:
Sadly, I have to report that a second Year 10 student has tested positive via a lateral flow test this morning. As a result, a number of additional students have been contacted to self-isolate who are close contacts of this case. Furthermore, our case identified yesterday in Year 10 has now tested positive for COVID-19 via a PCR test. The second case was identified as a close contact of the first. All students now self-isolating will receive a separate letter shortly detailing the length of self-isolation needed.
It is clear that coronavirus has been in the High School this week and I would ask you please to be vigilant with your children and look out for the identified COVID symptoms which are:
A high temperature
A new and continuous cough
A loss or change in your sense of taste or smell
Some anecdotal evidence is emerging that other symptoms related to COVID-19 are appearing in children, so you may well wish to test your child more frequently at home when they develop any symptoms at all. However, should they develop any of the three symptoms above, then they must be booked in for a PCR test and this must return as negative before they will be able to return to school.
Thankfully, children continue to be more mildly affected by COVID than adults (https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-689684/v1) and we hope that this is the case with our young people affected. We will be thinking of them and their families over the next week and wish them well.
Apologies for this rather crass segue, but a number of our students have been approaching me since Wednesday wanting to celebrate England’s achievement in the Euros competition so far and so we will allow students to come into school in ‘Sports Mufti’ on Monday. We would be grateful if children could bring in a pound to support a charity promoted by one of our Year 10 students who will be riding (virtually) from Lands’ End to John o’ Groats this summer to support an organisation which recycles bikes to Africa (https://www.re-cycle.org/). Any donations towards this excellent cause would be gratefully received.
Yours sincerely
Dr Rob Patterson
Executive Headteacher
Wigmore Academy Trust
