Pupils stay at home as confirmed Covid-19 case announced at South Tyneside school

Harton Primary School, on East Avenue, advised parents this morning that children in that year group should not attend the school today, pending guidance from Public Health England.

The school also said it would update parents later on in the day regarding advice for attendance throughout the rest of the week.

Parents of children in other year groups at Harton Primary have been told the school remains open to these pupils.

This morning, the school announced via its Facebook page: “We have just been informed of a positive case of Covid in Year 2.

"Year 2 only should not attend school this morning (Monday 16th November) while we await advice from Public Health England.

"We will be in touch later today about whether Year 2 can return to school tomorrow. School remains open to all other year groups.

"Apologies for the short notice.”

The announcement comes after another 78 cases were confirmed across South Tyneside yesterday.

Despite the recent rise in cases, the borough’s hospital trust recorded no new virus-related deaths at the weekend.

According to NHS England figures published yesterday, a further 132 people who tested positive for the Covid-19 had died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 36,322.

Patients were aged between 45 and 100-years-old. All except one, aged 69, had known underlying health conditions.

Deaths are recorded as Covid-19 related where a person has died within 28 days of a positive test.

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