Confirmed case of Covid-19 at Gairloch High School sparks NHS Highland call for S4-S6 pupils to self-isolate for 14 days; pupils taking minibus to school from Shieldaig also been urged to self-isolate; however, pupils in S1-S3 can continue to attend school 'if they remain well'

SENIOR pupils at a Ross-shire high school have been urged to self-isolate after one of them tested positive for Covid-19.

NHS Highland has announced that contact tracing is under way following the confirmed case at Gairloch High School.

But it has advised that, with mixed classes for pupils in years S4-S6 – coupled with the fact the infected youngster has to take a long journey to school each day – it has proven difficult to tell which fellow pupils have had close contact.

Therefore as a precautionary measure to prevent further spread any senior pupil in S4-S6 has been advised to remain at home for 14 days from yesterday (September 17) and self-isolate at home until Friday, October 2.

Any pupils – regardless of their year group – who travel to school on the minibus from Shieldaig, are also being told to self-isolate for the same period of time.

All other pupils in S1-S3 can continue to attend school as normal "if they remain well".

Dr Ken Oates, Consultant in Public Health for NHS Highland, said: “We appreciate that this will be causing anxiety but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with the school and Education Service colleagues in the Highland Council.

“We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the virus can recur even in rural communities and so everyone should continue to adhere to physical distancing guidelines, wear a face-covering when in enclosed spaces, clean your hands and surfaces regularly and immediately self-isolate if you develop symptoms.”

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