Hebburn school confirms NO students have tested positive for coronavirus following social media rumours

St Joseph’s Catholic Academy has confirmed it has not had any cases of anyone testing positive for the virus and that the school is open as normal on Monday, March 2.

Messages shared on social media at the weekend said a student from St Joseph’s had tested positive for coronavirus.

But the academy, which is under the Northern Saints Catholic Education Trust, say if any member of the school community is to test positive it will be directly contacted by the Public Health England Health Protection Team.

A message to parents and students on the academy’s website says: “We have been made aware of messages on social media referring to a student from St Joseph’s having tested positive for COVID – 19 (Coronavirus).

“We can confirm that we have had no cases of anyone testing positive with COVID – 19. Should any member of the school community test positive we would be contacted directly by the local Public Health England Health Protection Team.

“We have followed all the advice of Public Health England to this point and will continue to do so.

“Our first priority is the safeguarding of all our students and staff and should the above situation change we would continue to follow the latest guidance, take further advice from Public Health England and act accordingly.”

The number of Britons who have tested positive for COVID-19 has now climbed to 36.