An entire high school in Wales is self-isolating as Covid cases rise

A surge in cases of coronavirus has forced an entire Welsh high school to self-isolate.

All four year groups at Rhyl High School are currently in quarantine, as the school works closely with health bodies to ensure "appropriate measures are in place to protect students, staff and the wider community".

It comes as more than 650 new coronavirus cases have been reported in Wales in the past 48 hours. Public Health Wales said it has identified 670 more positive cases - up from the previous 416 reported in its last batch of figures. The overall infection rate in Wales now stands at 53.1 cases per 100,000 population based on the seven days between June 17 and June 23 , up from 42.3 cases on Sunday. You can read more about that by clicking here.

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A statement from Denbighshire County Council read: “Year 11 has finished for the academic year while Years 7, 8 and 10 are currently isolating following positive Covid-19 tests associated with the school. Year 9 are currently voluntarily self-isolating while awaiting the results of a PCR test.

“The school is working closely with Public Health Wales, the Local Authority and NHS Wales Test, Trace and Protect to ensure that all the appropriate measures are in place to protect students, staff and the wider community.”

The Daily Post reports that elsewhere, at Connah's Quay High School, those in years 7 and 10 are having to self isolate along with Year 10 pupils from Maelor School in Penley and Year 10 pupils from Ysgol Y Grango in Wrexham. In total, more than 3,000 school pupils are now isolating across North East Wales.

Flintshire's chief officer for education and youth service Claire Homard said since June 21 the county had seen 60 new Covid-19 cases across 24 schools, but there are no current plans to close any schools in response.

She added: "Whilst we are all frustrated by the rise in cases and the disruption this is causing, everyone's priority is to keep learners safe and ensure that they continue to access quality learning and teaching in the short time left now until the end of the academic year."