Two South Yorkshire schools re-open after staff test positive for coronavirus

Pupils were told to stay away from Outwood Academy Danum and St Joseph & St Teresa's Catholic Primary School last week after staff members tested positive for Covid-19 in unrelated cases.

But both have re-opened today following deep cleaning.

Outwood was closed for a week following the positive test.

The closure was described as a “precautionary measure” and a spokesman said: “All students and staff who may have been affected have been contacted, and whilst we have not made this decision lightly, it is borne of our absolute commitment to trying to keep our students, our staff and our community safe.”

Meanwhile, Terry Carroll, head at St Joseph's and St Teresa’s, has also re-opened the school today after a teacher became ill with coronavirus symptoms.

He said: “We took the precaution to inform parents/carers and staff, who had been in contact with the teacher, to self isolate for 14 days.

“As part of the school’s procedures we have been in contact with the Local Authority and the Health Protection Team.

“They have investigated the time scales of the infection and possible contacts. They are confident that sufficient time has passed between the teacher’s last contact with school and the start of symptoms, to avoid the need for 14 days of isolation.”

Year 6 pupils returned last week while Year 1 pupils were due to be welcomed back this morning.