A Fishponds school has confirmed six coronavirus cases in recent days.
Bristol Metropolitan Academy, a 951-pupil secondary on Snowdon Road, informed parents on Friday (November 13) that two Year 9 students had tested positive.
Principal Cameron Shaw wrote: "As the students had been in the academy within 48 hours of becoming symptomatic, we need to follow Public Health England advice in order to reduce the risk to students and staff of any potential spread."
He said parents of close contacts in Year 9 would be contacted directly. No students outside the year group were considered close contacts.
Mr Shaw wrote to parents again yesterday (November 16): "I am sorry to have to write to you again so soon after Friday’s letter.
"This morning we received confirmation of three more positive coronavirus cases within our student community, as well as one staff member."
The message did not reveal the year groups affected, but the school sent another letter yesterday, which said a Year 9 student had tested positive.
"This morning we received confirmation of a positive test for coronavirus from a Year 9 student," it read.
"The child became symptomatic on the morning of Saturday, November 14, and went for a Covid-19 test which came back positive over the weekend."
The letter was addressed to a parent whose Year 9 pupil was a close contact to the case, and must self-isolate until Saturday, November 28.
"The current advice is that ‘close contact’ includes, for example, those who sit within two metres of the student in lessons or those in the same friendship group who sit together for extended periods within one metre at break or lunch," the letter added.
Bristol Live has asked the school how many pupils are self-isolating and which year groups they are from.
Public Health England defines an outbreak as two or more confirmed case dating within 14 days of each other.
You should book a Covid-19 test if your child has at least one of the following:
- A high temperature - This means if they feel hot to touch on the chest or back. You do not need to measure their temperature.
- A new continuous cough - This means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. If your child usually has a cough, it may be worse than usual).
A loss or change to their sense of smell or taste - They've noticed they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
If your child does not have symptoms of coronavirus but has other cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, they do not need to be tested, and they or members of your household do not need to self-isolate.
Your child can attend school if fit to do so.
