A SECOND staff member has tested positive for coronavirus at a school.

Students who have been in contact with the virus at Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Hove have been advised to self-isolate.

The news was shared with parents in a letter from principal Claire Jarman yesterday.

This is the second staff member at the school to have tested positive for the virus in the last week, with a first case of the illness being confirmed on Friday morning.

Ms Jarman said: “Unfortunately, we have had another member of staff who has tested positive for Covid-19.

“In conjunction with Public Health England we have spent the whole of today completing a risk assessment and have identified a small number of students who would have had sufficient contact to have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days.

“The contact was minimal and the risk is low but obviously we cannot be too cautious.

“All affected students have been contacted already and given advice.

“I would like to reassure parents and students that this incident occurred before we updated and adjusted our guidelines.

“I cannot stress enough the absolute necessity of maintaining strict distancing at all times.

“If we all do this, we will reduce the risks.”

In a letter to parents on Friday, following the confirmation of the first staff case of Covid-19 at the school, Ms Jarman said that two Year 7 classes had been affected.

The school has now advised a further group to self-isolate, with pupils deemed to have been in contact with the virus being sent an “individual letter”.

As a result, they and those they live with had been told to self-isolate for 14 days.

She wrote, again, to the families of pupils on Sunday ahead of the return of Year 9 and 10 to reassure them that new safety measures had been put in place to keep students safe.

She said: “As well as our regular Friday evening deep clean, we added all the areas that our Covid-positive colleague had been in for a deep clean with a system similar to ‘fogging’, which leaves an invisible disinfectant barrier on surfaces which lasts for over a week.”

Ms Jarman dispelled rumours that the first staff member to have contracted coronavirus had recently travelled abroad or “participated in any other risky behaviours”.

She also revealed that they had been asymptomatic and “had no idea they were carrying the virus until contacted by track and trace”.

When they were notified, they left the school site and did not return.

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A second message from Principal Claire Jarman was attached in an email to parents informing them of the second staff virus case at the school.

Here is the letter in full:

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have been made aware of a second member of our school community who have tested positive for COVID 19.

We know that you will find this concerning and 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 small number of children who have been in direct prolonged contact with the confirmed cases will have received an individual letter and will be staying at home for 14 days.

The school remains open and your child should continue to attend if they are well.

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’. Further guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.

Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

If you are able can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period

Symptoms of COVID 19

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

· new continuous cough and/or

· high temperature

· a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/ or by phoning 111

How to stop COVID-19 spreading

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19

Do

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds

• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available

• wash your hands as soon as you get home

• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze

• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/