An outbreak of coronavirus at a Scots nursery has raised concerns about a full return of youngsters to the classroom.
It is understood a community cluster was linked to asymptomatic youngsters at the Mulberry Bush Nursery in Helensburgh.
The nursery had been allowed to remain open during the lockdown for children of frontline workers.
But several families in the town were forced to self isolate after the outbreak was discovered.
Fraser Murdoch, owner of the nursery, in the town’s Charlotte Street, refused to speak about the outbreak claiming: “Under the terms of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) I am not able to disclose anything.”
However, NHS Highland confirmed their Health Protection Team “has been managing an outbreak associated with the Mulberry Bush Nursery in Helensburgh”.
A spokesman said: “The nursery closed voluntarily from January 29 following the identification of a cluster of cases that weekend.
“Close contacts were identified and asked to self-isolate.
“In light of increasing case numbers, a letter was sent on February 6 by NHS Highland offering testing to all children and staff identified as contacts even if they had no symptoms.”
The health board spokesman said the nursery has now re-opened to some children with a full re-opening planned.
All Scots nurseries will re-open and primary one to three children will return to school full-time on Monday.
Last night EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said the government has “downplayed the risk of in-school transmission”.
He said: “They say schools are not drivers of infection levels, which they are not, and they say they are not super spreaders. But that doesn’t mean they are not spreaders.
“If buildings are open without physical distancing it does create the opportunity for more transmission.
“Away from Government rhetoric, the fact they are going slowly is indicative of the fact they know that as well.”
And he said the outbreak was “indicative of the reason people still have concerns”.
He pointed out physical distancing was particularly difficult in early learning centres - where it is not a requirement. But while children are unlikely to become seriously ill with Covid, they are still able to transmit the virus to others and, in particular, to teachers.
He stated: “This is why we should prioritise vaccinations for teachers in phase two of the vaccination programme.”
Once the JCVI most at risk list is complete there will be priority consideration given to certain professions.
Flanagan said: “We think school staff should be part of that group.”
