Carlisle school closed after 'significant' Covid outbreak
Richard Rose Central Academy in Carlisle has been forced to close after a number of its teachers and staff tested positive for coronavirus, and others were told to self-isolate.
Students have been told to return to home learning for this week, and have been reassured that they would "still have access to a full timetable of lessons."
Thirty pupils and thirteen staff were confirmed to have the virus. Colin Cox, Director of Public Health in Cumbria said this has had a "knock on effect", meaning a significant number of pupils and staff have had to self-isolate as a result.
Mr Cox added that the school had been "managing the situation well, and working hard to maintain a Covid secure environment, but it was inevitably going to be a difficult outbreak to control."
In a letter published by the school yesterday, the Principal, Miss Bacon, blamed the rising number of cases in the city.
A spokesman for the school said:
“Cases of Covid-19 remain high in Carlisle and unfortunately we have a very high number of staff and students who are self-isolating either because they have tested positive or because they have been in contact with someone who subsequently tested positive. This means that students at the school are learning from home this week and are accessing a full curriculum online. At all times the school follows the full advice of the medical and scientific experts and we look forward to everyone returning to school once the numbers needing to self-isolate make it tenable.”