A private school in Forres cancelled an open day and has closed for a week after a parent was diagnosed with the COVID-19 disease.
On Saturday (14 March) a poster on the door of Drumduan School, which follows the Steiner Waldorf principles of teaching, said a case of coronavirus had been confirmed in its community.
The posters, printed in bold red type said: “OPEN DAY POSTPONED due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the school community.”
A separate poster states: “This school will be closed for one week. This position will be reviewed on Friday 20 March 2020.
School manager Allan Kerr said the school was notified on Friday evening that a parent had been positively diagnosed with COVID-19.
“The decision to close this independent school is purely a precautionary one.
“Being such a relatively small school, all the children, irrespective of class, share the same toilets, have contact with the same surfaces and door handles, play together at break times and share the same rope swings etc.”
Staff are not allowed into the school while it is closed to safeguard against the possibility of infection
“We are informed that the virus can survive on a surface for up to 72 hours. It is hoped that this purely precautionary measure for one week will serve our whole school community well and the decision was made in everyone’s very best interests,” he added.
Families and staff have been asked during this precautionary period to report to Mr Kerr if anyone displays any symptoms. if so, they will be asked to self-isolate for the required period in accordance with government and health guidelines.
It is hoped that Drumduan School will re-open on Monday 23 March and this decision will be made on Friday 20 March.
As of 16 March, 131 people in Scotland have tested positive and one person has died.
