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Two schools close after teachers test positive for coronavirus just days after reopening

Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill, Suffolk, has closed after five members of staff tested positive for COVID-19. (Google)
Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill, Suffolk, has closed after five members of staff tested positive for COVID-19. (Google)

Two schools have closed after teaching staff tested positive for coronavirus within days of reopening.

Last week, there were queues at the gates as schools reopened across the UK.

Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill, Suffolk, closed on Monday for a deep clean after five teachers tested positive for COVID-19, while another two are waiting for their test results.

And Old Buckenham High School near Attleborough, Norfolk, was also closed on Monday for a deep clean after a member of staff tested positive for coronavirus.

Samuel Ward Academy reopened to some pupils last Thursday and many more from other year groups were due to return on Monday.

In a statement, the school said the closure was a “precautionary measure” and that it hoped to reopen on Tuesday.

Headteacher Andy Hunter said: “The safety of pupils and all those who work at the school is my biggest priority.

“Obviously this is a huge disappointment after working so hard to get the school back up and running.

“I will be looking closely at the systems we put in place to try to understand how the transmission occurred and to make sure we do everything possible to limit the chances of the same thing happening again.

“I am very disappointed by this disrupted start to the school term. We have taken very extensive precautions.

“We were delighted that term had started so well last week and were looking forward to the final two year groups starting.

“We are determined to do all we can to stop the further spread of the virus and agree with the precautionary action to close the school.”

Anyone who has been in close contact with infected staff has been contacted and asked to self-isolate for 14 days, the school said.

Pupils follow social distancing signs as they walk along a corridor at Kingsdale Foundation School in London, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. Schools in England are starting to reopen with special measures in place to deal with Coronavirus. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
A number of schools reopened their doors to pupils last week. (AP Photo)

Further contact tracing will continue and additional pupils and staff may be asked to self-isolate.

Stuart Keeble, director of public health at Suffolk County Council, said: “Understandably, this news may worry parents across Suffolk, but it is important to remember that the risk of children contracting COVID-19 is still very small.

“Evidence suggests that children are more likely to contract COVID-19 at home.”

In a statement posted on its website on Sunday evening, Old Buckenham High School said: “Due to a member of staff testing positive for COVID-19, Old Buckenham High School will be closed on Monday.

“We apologise for the late delivery of this information, however, we have only very recently become aware of the situation.”

The school had reopened on Friday.

Headteacher Andrew Fell said: “While it is regrettable to close the school on Monday, this incident has shown that systems are in place and working to quickly deal with any issues related to COVID-19.

“The school will be deep cleaned on Monday and decisions about reopening conveyed to parents/carers as soon as practicable.”

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