Member of staff at Poulton secondary school diagnosed with coronavirus

Head teacher Alison Chapman confirmed the staff member, who has not been identified, had tested positive for COVID-19 in a letter addressed to parents and carers yesterday.

However, she said the school, on High Cross Road, would remain open to the children of key workers following advice from the Department of Education.

She said: "I have been in touch with the Department for Education and followed their guidance. They say that there is no need to close the school and the member of staff has been self-isolating. However, I do understand that this news will cause concern for members of our school community.

"The feedback from the DFE was that the school does not need to close because the germs can only live on surfaces for up to 48 hours and this staff member has not been in school for a number of days. We have a strong daily cleaning programme in place, using stronger detergents than usual. In addition, when the school was closed on Friday, the school underwent a deep clean of many areas of the school, including all corridors, toilets, walls and communal areas. Cleaners will also be in school on Monday morning before school to continue cleaning areas.

"While we are open for our vulnerable students and children of key workers, I am only opening a minimum of areas in school so that we can manage the cleaning at the end of every day. We still require you to follow the principle of social distancing and only send your children in to school if there is no safe alternative.

"With more staff self-isolating, we have worked out the staffing based on the numbers attending. We may not be able to provide provision to everyone if there are large student numbers attending because I do not have the staff available. I know that this message will cause some of you to worry, but I aim to keep you up to date with any changes. The DFE were clear that we do not need to close or isolate anyone else as a result of this information as long as they do not show any of the symptoms.

"We have already been sending anyone home to self-isolate should they have either of the symptoms (persistent new cough or temperature above 37.8C). We will continue to follow the recommended guidance."

As of yesterday there were six confirmed cases of coronavirus in Blackpool and 44 in Lancashire, which includes Fylde and Wyre, however tests are only being done in hospitals and officials believe the real number could be much higher.