Six Covid cases in Lothian schools lead to 88 pupils and eight staff self-isolating

NHS Lothian rewrites guidance on sniffles

Pupils returned to school on August 12

EIGHTY-EIGHT pupils and eight staff in schools in Lothian have been told to self-isolate for 14 days after contact with pupils who have Covid-19.

NHS Lothian said there had been single cases of Covid in six schools across the region’s four council areas.

But it added there was no evidence of virus transmission within the schools themselves.

Professor Alison McCallum, NHS Lothian director of public health and health policy, said: “Our teams are working with schools to ensure that all of the necessary infection control measures are in place to protect other young people and their families. All of the schools remain open and parents should continue to send their children to school.”

Last weekend saw a major spike in demand for testing with some people in Scotland being directed to England for a check.

In Edinburgh there were reports of large numbers of children off school with colds and sniffles.

And First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said one reason for the high demand for tests may be children picking up coughs and colds after their return to class - though she said only those with symptoms associated with Covid - which include a cough - should go for a test.

Meanwhile, NHS Lothian is rewriting guidance which advises children with sore throats and runny noses to stay off school. Some schools and nurseries posted the advice on their websites or included it in letters to parents.

Eileen Prior, of parents group Connect, said the advice had led parents to get children tested even though they did not have Covid symptoms. “The advice is confusing - saying they should not be at school led to thinking it must be to do with Covid and the leap was made to getting them tested. Schools need to have clear direction, as do families, on what symptoms should lead to testing.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to the Edinburgh Evening News online and enjoy unlimited access to trusted, fact-checked news and sport from Edinburgh and the Lothians. Visit https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director