Headteacher hits out after school hit by major Covid outbreak with 80 cases

A headteacher has hit out at parents and students after an 80-case outbreak of Covid-19 in their school.

The headteacher of South Charnwood High School in Leicestershire, Andrew Morris, commented on the parents' lack of support in the school’s efforts to reintroduce masks.

This was in an attempt to curb high Covid rates in the school as the country heads towards winter, LeicestershireLive reports.

Mr Morris delivered a polite notice to parents insisting that their children wear face masks in school when they returned after the half-term holidays in October.

Previous attempts to reintroduce mask usage in larger numbers were unsuccessful.

South Charnwood School in Leicestershire (Google Streetview)

The school originally requested the help of parents to encourage their children to wear masks before half-term after over 80 Covid cases were discovered in one week.

Writing in the school’s half-term newsletter, Mr Morris said: “We were all so happy to get back to school, with the usual timetable, with no bubbles and staff in their own rooms in department areas, it was such a relief.

“However, the seven weeks have not been without disruption. We have had our fair share of positive cases amongst pupils and, indeed, staff.

“Such were our numbers one week – over 80 positive cases – that we asked for your support in encouraging pupils to wear a face-covering again in communal areas, including classrooms.

“In truth, the response from pupils was not as we hoped and there are still only a handful of pupils wearing masks as requested.”

This comes as Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam warned that the UK was running “too hot” this early in Autumn in terms of Covid rates.

He said there were “dark months” ahead and that increased mask usage was needed.

In recent days, however, the 7-day average of Covid cases in the UK has been decreasing with some hoping we have reached a peak.

A new Pfizer antiviral Covid pill, that can be taken at home, has been shown to cut hospitalisations and deaths by 89%.

The new medication could serve to reduce the burden Covid patients place on hospitals and save lives.