Covid in Scotland: 48 cases linked to Elgin Academy in Moray
- Published
The situation at Elgin Academy is being assessed
More than 40 Covid cases have been linked to a school in Moray amid warnings the area may have to remain in level three restrictions.
Moray Council said 48 cases had now been associated with Elgin Academy since 14 April.
Parents are being assured that it is still safe to send their children.
Moray's rate was originally among the lowest in Scotland, but has now soared to three times the national average.
NHS Grampian said hospital admissions were also increasing, and residents are being urged to follow the guidelines.
Scotland is due to move to level two on 17 May.
'Continuing to worsen'
However, a senior public health official warned earlier this week that level three Covid restrictions could remain in Moray if infection rates do not come down.
Jillian Evans, the head of health intelligence at NHS Grampian, said the situation was "very fragile" and Moray needed to reverse the rise in cases.
Of the school situation, NHS Grampian said in statement: "Public health is working closely with Moray Council and the school's management."
Paul Southworth, consultant in public health, said on Wednesday: "The situation in Moray is continuing to worsen. We have also seen an increase in Covid hospital admissions from Moray this week.
"In the last seven days Moray has seen 55% of Grampian's cases - but has less than 17% of the population.
"There is no business, school or organisation behind the rise in cases. We are seeing community spread across the region, but particularly focused in Elgin and the surrounding area."
'Not left behind'
More than a quarter of Elgin Academy's population of about 1,000 pupils have been required to self-isolate.
Moray Council chief executive Roddy Burns described rising case numbers as "concerning".
He said: "We all want to move to level two of restrictions later this month, along with the rest of the country, and see more freedoms restored.
"We're all responsible for our choices - follow the rules, don't gather in large groups and don't go into people's home to socialise. We do not want Moray to get left behind."
Moray Council head of education Vivienne Cross said: "These have been some of the toughest weeks of the pandemic for our school staff and families.
"We're reassured by public health that our strong Covid protection measures mean that transmission is not happening within our schools, and ask our residents to make the most of the expansion of testing for 'mild or extended' symptoms, and community testing for those without symptoms, to help stop the spread and further disruption to children's learning."
Elgin Academy head teacher Kyle Scott is writing to all families with children at the school.
Moray Chamber of Commerce echoed that it was crucial that everyone in the area follows coronavirus guidelines to help bring case numbers down.
On 2 May, Public Health Scotland reported a seven day case rate of 81.4 per 100,000 population in Moray, compared to a national average of 21.4.
The weekly case rate per 100,000 is one of the key measures the Scottish government uses to decide which Covid level a local authority should be placed in.
Other indicators include the percentage of positive tests and pressure on local hospitals.
The threshold for level three was lowered to 50 cases per 100,000 in March.
Moray is currently the only Scottish local authority above this threshold.
Ten new cases were recorded in Moray in the latest daily coronavirus figures.
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