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NHS Forth Valley's Test and Protect team is carrying out COVID-19 contact tracing in Ladeside Primary School in Falkirk after a child who attends the school tested positive for the virus. The individual is self-isolating at home along with the rest of their household.

Initial information suggests the virus was contracted outside of the school and there is no evidence at this stage of any transmission within the school premises. Close contacts of the individual have been identified and are being followed up with advice and support.

Robust control measures were already in place to protect the health of pupils and staff and the school remains open. Apart from those who have been identified as close contacts, all other staff and pupils can continue to attend the school as normal.

Dr Graham Foster, NHS Forth Valley’s Director of Public Health, said: "Close contacts of this one child are being called by our Test and Protect service so if you have not been contacted by the NHS then you do not require to self-isolate or book a test.

“I would like to remind people that it is important to continue to follow the national guidance to protect yourself and others. This includes physical distancing indoors and outdoors, washing your hands regularly, wearing face coverings, where required and arranging to get tested immediately if you develop any of the symptoms of COVID-19."

David Mackay, Head of Education at Falkirk Council said: “We want to reassure parents and carers that we follow the strict Scottish Government and NHS guidelines regarding hygiene and are working closely with NHS Forth Valley’s Public Health team.

COVID-19 cases in schools

Many precautions have been taken in our schools to limit the areas pupils access and the people they have contact with. This limits the spread of the virus and means that, if a positive case of COVID-19 is identified in a school, Public Health teams can confidently identify who has been in contact with that person.

Parents/carers of children who have been identified as a close contact of a confirmed case will be contacted NHS Forth Valley’s Test & Protect team and given advice and support on self-isolation and testing, where appropriate.

If a child is asked to stay home because they have been in contact with a confirmed case at school, other household members do not need to self-isolate providing all household members are well. Siblings can continue to attend school if they have not been identified as a close contact and no one in the household is unwell.

If you have not been contacted by NHS staff then your child can continue to attend school providing they and the rest of the household are well.

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID-19

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19 (a new continuous cough, a high temperature or loss of sense of taste or smell), they must not come to school. You should arrange for your child to be tested and all household members should stay at home during this time. Tests can be booked via the NHS Inform website or by calling 0800 028 2816.

If the test is positive your child should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. All other household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.

Further information on COVID-19 and self-isolation is available www.nhsinform.scot