Coronavirus case confirmed at Gosport school

A CASE of coronavirus has been confirmed at a school.
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A pupil at at Leesland C of E Infant School, in Whitworth Road, Gosport has had a confirmed Covid-19 diagnosis.

Specialists from Public Health England (PHE) South East are providing expert advice and support to the school and following a risk assessment, close contacts at the school have been identified and advised to self-isolate at home.

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Claire Wilson, executive headteacher at Leesland Church of England Federation of Schools, said: ‘I can confirm that one of our pupils has been tested and is confirmed as having COVID-19. The pupil is self-isolating, in the care of their family.

Leesland C of E Primary School, Whitworth Road, Gosport
Picture: Duncan ShepherdLeesland C of E Primary School, Whitworth Road, Gosport
Picture: Duncan Shepherd
Leesland C of E Primary School, Whitworth Road, Gosport Picture: Duncan Shepherd

‘I have followed closely, Public Health England (PHE) advice and national guidance and instructed the child’s bubble of pupils and relevant staff to self-isolate at home for 14 days. Accordingly, the classroom that was being used by this bubble has been closed and will be cleaned as advised by PHE.

Noeleen McFarland, consultant in health protection for Public Health England South East, said: ‘We are working closely with the school, Hampshire County Council and NHS partners to provide public health advice and help stop the spread of the virus.

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‘The school has been advised to follow national guidance and ensure that anyone who develops symptoms self-isolates for seven days and gets tested for Covid-19, and all their household members isolate for 14 days.

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‘Close contacts of a confirmed case are asked to self-isolate for 14 days, even if they have no symptoms, as they could still be developing the disease before symptoms occur (to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus).

‘Schools have been asked to take certain measures to help reduce the spread of the virus, including staff and pupils washing their hands more often than usual for 20 seconds with soap and water, coughing and sneezing into tissues and promoting the “catch it, bin it, kill it” approach, cleaning frequently touched surfaces regularly and minimising contact with other people as far as possible.’

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Anyone who develops symptoms, which include a new continuous cough, high temperature or loss or change to their sense of taste or smell, should self-isolate straight away and arrange a Covid-19 test via nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/ask-for-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus

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