Five percent of schools in Northamptonshire have pupils isolating, new figures show

Five per cent of schools across Northamptonshire have "isolating bubbles", according to the latest information from Public Health Northamptonshire.

At the weekly press conference on Friday (September 18), figures for the week September 7-13 showed that there were three reports of an outbreak in schools, which is two or more cases linked by place and time to the location. One each in Northampton, Kettering and Corby.

There were 11 "exposures", which is a single case where there has been, or potentially been, exposure to contacts in that setting.

The figures for this week are not yet available.

Councillor Fiona Baker, cabinet member for education at Northamptonshire County Council, praised the efforts of the schools in the measures they are taking. She said 100 per cent of schools were open, but a number had reduced hours.

The panel were told of reports of some parents being frustrated at the information being given out on whether they should self-isolate or not.

Councillor Baker said the decision on who needs to isolate is taken on a case by case basis by the individual schools.

She said she had been assured by schools that they were correctly passing on the information to parents but added that the county council may have to take a greater involvement in ensuring this was happening.

Rhosyn Harris, from Public Health Northamptonshire, said it was clear who should and should not self-isolate.

"The clear message is that anyone who is symptomatic, regardless of whether they have had a test, needs to isolate and so does your household. Contacts outside of the home do not need to islate until that case is is confirmed," she said