Canons High School in Edgware has confirmed that they have had a second student with a confirmed case of covid-19.
The school has advised parents that ‘there is no evidence that there has been any spread within our school community‘. Canons High School is one of six in Harrow that have confirmed cases of the virus.
In a letter posted on the school website, Headteacher Keven Bartle said: “I am writing to let you know that we have had a second confirmed case of coronavirus for a student at Canons. I want to reassure you as far as I can by letting you know the following points:
• Both cases came from outside the school community.
• The cases are from two different year groups and are completely unconnected.
• Each of the students were in school for a very short period of time, just two hours in one case and one day in the other.
• The students and their families knew what symptoms to look out for and the processes for contacting the school. We have been grateful for their continued engagement with us.
• The school knows exactly which students and staff were close to the students involved and these people are now self-isolating for a period to 14 days.
• We have been in contact with all the families of all students involved. If we have not contacted you, it is because there is nothing for you to worry about with your own children.
• Public Health England (PHE) have only advised us to send home eleven students and four members of staff across both cases. No whole-class or whole-year bubbles have needed to be sent home based on PHE’s expert guidance having assessed our provision and actions.
“I appreciate that many of you will be concerned or anxious about this news. As I have mentioned, though, there is no evidence that there has been any spread within our school community. As I mentioned above, the measures that we have put in place for the start of term have meant that we have not been required to send the whole class or year group home. This has not been the case for many other schools that have had confirmed cases and so I would like to thank again each one of our staff and students for adhering to these measures. It will be important to continue to do so.
“We are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
“The school remains open and providing your child remains well they can continue to attend school as normal. We will keep this under review. Public Health England have asked us to remind all students and families of the following key pieces of information about staying safe.”
Today, Speaking to MPs Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The reasons for sending such a class home, or a bubble home, would be if somebody tests positive.”
He added: “If somebody tests positive who’s been in contact with the rest of their bubble then the rest of the bubble has to self isolate.”
