COVID-19 case confirmed at Dumfries and Galloway secondary school

A case of coronavirus has been confirmed at a secondary school in Dumfries and Galloway.

Someone has tested positive for COVID-19 at Douglas Ewart High School in Newton Stewart.

Parents and Carers of all pupils have been contacted and informed of the case.

Parents are being assured that the situation is being very closely monitored and investigated.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway Council and partners are working together to investigate this situation, and inquiries have been taking place.

Local education bosses say the safety of pupils and staff is the 'utmost priority'.

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Parents/carers of children who are close contacts of a confirmed case will be contacted by the ‘Test and Protect’ team asking them to stay home for 14 days. This 14 days will start from the last exposure, which is likely to be before the confirmed case was tested.

If your child is asked to stay home because they have been in contact with a confirmed case at school, other household members do not need to self-isolate providing all household members are well. Siblings can continue to attend school if they have not been identified as a close contact and no one in the household is unwell.

If you have not been contacted by Test and Protect then your child can continue to attend school providing they and the rest of the household are well.

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID

• If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school.

• You should arrange for your child to be tested and all household members should stay at home during this time.

• Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and further information on testing can be found on NHS Inform.

• If the test is positive your child should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared.

• All other household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.

Returning from a country that’s on the quarantine list

• If your child has returned from a country that is on the quarantine list, please do not send them to school until they have completed the 14 days quarantine period.