A Letterkenny school has moved to assure parents and the community after unconfirmed claims of a Covid-19 outbreak.
Management at St. Bernadette’s Special School implemented precautionary measures this week after being informed of positive Covid-19 cases linked to the school.
All students and staff from one class were asked to restrict their movements for 14 days when it emerged that a Special Needs Assistant who had worked in the school last week tested positive for the virus in recent days.
Claims of a Covid-19 outbreak in the school community were untrue, according to John Haran, principal of St. Bernadette’s Special School.
Mr Haran said: “Earlier this week we were made aware that a student from another school who shares a bus with St. Bernadette’s Special School tested positive for Covid-19. Consequently, the bus escort also tested positive, and this person was in the school last Thursday and Friday. Once we heard about the initial positive case, we acted immediately and made the decision to ask all students and staff from one class to self-isolate for 14 days as a precautionary measure.
“We alerted parents from that class with a phone call and we felt it was important to keep other parents informed so we sent a text with an update on the situation.
“Unfortunately, that text made its way onto social media, which led to an article stating that the school had an outbreak, which thankfully at this time is not the case. There was serious concern among parents and the wider community and we want to reiterate and assure everyone that we are doing everything we can to help keep staff and students safe and we hope anyone who has contracted the virus and quick recovery.”