NHS Fife is providing a further update after an additional two individuals linked to Sinclairtown Primary School in Kirkcaldy tested positive for COVID-19. 

A total of three individuals with links to the school have now been confirmed as being positive for the virus. All positive cases are experiencing mild symptoms and are isolating at home with other household members.  

All of the confirmed cases involve members of school staff. As investigations are ongoing, for staffing reasons it is necessary that the school building will remain closed until Monday 28 September 2020.     

There continues to be no evidence of transmission within the pupils of school at this stage, and based on the information available we believe the risk of transmission amongst pupils remains low. 

Those pupils in P1a, P2 and P4 who have previously been identified as potential contacts must continue to isolate at home as a precaution. Other pupils do not need to isolate but must not attend school.  

Anyone who develops any of the established symptoms of the virus, such as a fever; or a loss or change in taste or smell; or a new and continuous cough, should arrange testing using the UK Government Citizens’ Portal at: https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 0800 028 2816. 

Dr Lorna Watson, a consultant in public health medicine with NHS Fife said:  

“NHS Fife’s Health Protection Team is working closely with our colleagues at Fife Council’s education department to identify any close contacts of the positive cases in order to prevent onward spread of the virus. 

“Contact tracing is a tried and tested method of reducing the spread of communicable viruses such as COVID-19 and has been used successfully over recent weeks and months to prevent other large scale clusters of the virus from developing.” 

Fife Council Education Manager, Gordon Wardrope, added:  

“As a result of positive cases of COVID-19 amongst school staff, all teaching staff at the school have been instructed to isolate pending further assessment by NHS Fife’s Health Protection Team. This operational impact of this means we are unable to reopen the school before Monday 28 September 2020. 

“We appreciate this will create some anxiety, however, parents and carers should be assured that the safety of our pupils and staff remains our number one priority and we are continuing to follow Public Health advice around any actions required.”  

There are a number of useful resources available for parents in Fife, with information on how best to reduce the chances of your family contracting the virus and what you should do if someone in the household develops symptoms.  

These can be accessed through our dedicated Coronavirus website, at: https://coronavirus.nhsfife.org/parent-info  

Furthermore, Fife Council has made a comprehensive list of questions and answers available for parents and carers at: www.fife.gov.uk/schoolcovidfaqs