School staff member among cluster of Yell Covid cases

A MEMBER of staff at Mid Yell Junior High School has tested positive for coronavirus, with more than 20 people on the island now isolating.

Public health principal Elizabeth Robinson said all contact tracing was now complete.

Remote learning will continue for all pupils of Mid Yell Junior High School with online and offline learning, and the school is being deep cleaned.

NHS Shetland staff are due to visit Yell today (Friday) to undertake swab tests for anyone who is a contact, and anyone in the community with concerns.

Robinson said the health board was notified of the positive test on Wednesday night. There were already a number of cases on the island.

“Thankfully there weren’t too many bairns in the school at this time, because home schooling is meant to be what’s happening for most people,” she said.

Robinson said it is believed to be more of an extended family cluster situation.

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The council said that children of key workers and those who require support have been contacted regarding this provision and therefore there will be no in-school provision today (Friday), Monday and Tuesday at the school.

Shetland Islands Council’s director of children’s services Helen Budge said: “We would encourage all parents and carers where possible to have their children at home for remote learning, and only if alternative options for childcare have been explored and exhausted should applications for key worker childcare be submitted.”

On Thursday another two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Shetland, with numbers rising sharply since Christmas following an outbreak in the North Mainland.