Health chief praises West Bromwich school after Indian Covid variant cases found
A health chief has praised a school in the Black Country for its swift response after cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19 were discovered.
Dr Lisa McNally, Sandwell's director of of public health, thanked Ryders Green Primary School for their work to minimise transmission.
It comes after two people from the West Bromwich school tested positive for the B.1.617.2 variant – not linked to foreign travel.
A total of 120 children in two years groups at the Claypit Lane school will be tested along with approximately 10 staff, health chiefs have said.
Dr McNally said: "I’d like to thank the Ryders Green team for their prompt and robust response to the cases of coronavirus in the school when they were first tested. Thanks to their efforts, the risk of further transmission was minimised.
"Now that the subsequent ‘sequencing’ results have shown that the cases were the Indian new variant of the virus, their efforts to support further testing will help generate new information that will help in the overall response."
Testing is being stepped up as part of "increased surveillance" for the variant. Parents, guardians, students and staff members have been written to, advising them of the situation and if they need to be tested.
Reminder
The results of the tests will be reviewed, and further actions will be taken if required. If members of the local community do not have symptoms, there is no action for them to take at this time, chiefs say.
Councillor Maria Crompton, deputy leader of Sandwell Council, added: “People who live, study and work in Sandwell are reminded that coronavirus restrictions remain in place. You should take care when meeting anyone outside your household or support bubble. You should try to avoid travelling in and out of affected areas unless it is essential, for example for work, if you cannot do so from home. This will keep yourself and others safe.
“We want our communities to feel safe and protected, in their homes, in their schools and in their neighbourhoods. Our work with Public Health England will help us achieve this ambition.”
Public Health England (PHE) had informed Sandwell Council there had been cases of the new Indian variant of coronavirus linked to the school. They came back positive several weeks ago with all of the “appropriate” measures being taken, with action now being taken to boost testing.
