Eleven schools have now reported pupils returning positive Covid-19 tests in West Lothian.
West Lothian Council confirmed this morning that another four schools have returned positive tests.
This comes after The Courier broke the news last night that there had been seven schools with positive cases in recent weeks.
The latest positive cases were at The James Young High School, Addiewell Primary School, Dedridge Primary School and Armadale Primary School.
This is added to the seven we revealed at Bathgate Academy, Southdale Primary School, Winchburgh Primary, St Paul’s Primary School, Simpson Primary, Linlithgow Academy and St Kentgern’s Academy.
Parents at the schools have been informed and provided with a letter from public health.
The council again confirmed that the numbers of positive cases are very small.
Rules on disclosers say that if the number is less than five cases at any specific school then the number remains confidential.
West Lothian Council say that there are fewer than five in each school.
The council also say “plans are already in place” after Nicola Sturgeon ruled out closing schools for the time being.
The First Minister made the announcement at her briefing yesterday (October 6) after speculation that schools would be closed for a spell as part of a circuit-breaker lockdown.
Children will only be off for one week in October as scheduled but the council are prepared should further measures be taken.
A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “Plans are already in place to ensure all West Lothian pupils can continue learning, either in school, at home or blended as required.”
A new outbreak was also confirmed at a West Lothian nursing home yesterday and Public Health Scotland’s daily update revealed there has been a further 28 new cases reported in the county.
West Lothian as a whole has had 164 cases in the week September 26 to October 2, a significant jump of 83 from the week before and brought the total in the county to 893 cases since March.
The county remains way above the national average.
In Scotland, 56 people per 100,000 have the virus but in West Lothian that figure is now 90.
