Pupils at Blackpool secondary school forced into self-isolation after coming into 'close contact' with Covid patient

In a letter to parents, headteacher at the St Annes Road school, Neil Reynolds, said the children had been "identified as a close contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19" and must stay home until Friday, December 4.

If they show no symptoms of the coronavirus, they can return to classes the following Monday, Mr Reynolds said.

"We are asking you to do this to reduce the further spread of Covid-19 to others in the community," he added.

Year one and five youngsters at St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School, in Devonshire Road, Bispham, have been told to self-isolate until December 2 after a confirmed case there, The Gazette reported this morning.

More than a dozen local schools have been forced to keep children at home in self-isolation since September.

At least two - Westcliff Primary Academy and Moor Park Primary, both in Bispham - have had to shut their doors completely.

Two weeks ago, Moor Park's headteacher Joanne Magson said seven members of staff had the disease, with some "quite poorly".

Two local school workers ended up in intensive care after contracting the virus, Anchorsholme Academy headteacher Graeme Dow told parents recently.

Blackpool Council said it couldn't comment on individual cases when asked for an update on the pair's condition and what school they worked for.

Blackpool's director of public health said recently he agreed with the Government's decision to keep schools open during the second national lockdown, despite lowering the threshold for coronavirus testing.

Dr Arif Rajpura, who two months ago ordered headteachers to send youngsters home to be tested even if they show unofficial mild symptoms such as tiredness or a headache, said: "Considering the detrimental impact of being away from the education system, as well as the low risk of Covid-19 to young people, school is absolutely the best place for children to be."