ESC reports 277 children back in school at last count
ABOUT 260 people have been able to go back to work after schools were opened for some pupils.
Children of essential workers and vulnerable students have been allowed to attend during half-term after negative tests for Covid-19.
Public Health is trying to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission to the community.
In an effort to do this, the criteria for children to be able to attend school during the half-term break was tightened to allow fewer students back on education sites.
Only vulnerable children or children whose parents are both essential workers who could not work from home were permitted.
In single-parent households where the parent is an essential worker, those children were also allowed into school.
A spokesperson for Education, Sport & Culture said that, at the last count, 277 children headed back into school.
All fully-funded States schools except Les Voies and Forest Primary School and St Anne’s in Alderney opened to allow some students back in during half-term.
‘Approximately half of the 277 children have both parents as essential workers,’ the spokesperson said.
In the first lockdown, about 500 pupils were in school, but the tightened rules meant only around 360 were eligible this time around. As part of efforts to reduce the risk of transmission, students and staff were tested before their return, and while all students received negative results, the Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink confirmed on Monday that two teaching staff had tested positive.
