DOZENS of pupils were sent home to self-isolate on their first day back at school, with a number of children testing positive for Covid-19.

Staff at Belfairs Academy, in Leigh, were made aware of three students testing positive after using the school’s fast-testing facilities on Monday.

As a result, 55 children are now off isolating having come into contact with the positive cases.

It comes as one student tested positive yesterday at the FitzWimarc School in Rayleigh and a small percentage of students identified as close contacts were also sent home to self-isolate.

Krishna Ramkhelawon, director of public health in Southend, wrote to Belfairs parents yesterday outlining a “misunderstanding” following testing.

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Stressing the school was not to blame, he said staff had been advised to retest three pupils, a move which is “not the correct clinical procedure to follow”. It is not clear who gave the advice.

However, Mr Ramkhelawon has made it clear the school did in fact follow the correct procedure by sending children home to self-isolate.

In a letter home to parents, he said: “People who are carrying the virus unknowingly can still receive a negative result if their viral load is low in the body, when using LFDs. But it’s very unlikely that those three pupils would have tested positive, if they didn’t have any viral load.

“Therefore, we follow the process, as agreed by Public Health England, in that a positive first time, should always be treated as a positive case.

“Despite all the confusion, Mrs Bev Williams (principal) followed the correct procedure when she was told about the positive tests in advising these three pupils and their immediate contacts to self-isolate – all parents were advised.

“It is disappointing we have to take this urgent action and disrupt the return to school for some of the pupils. However, we have to apply the correct judgement in this time of challenge which will protect all of us and the safe return to education.”

Bev Williams, Belfairs Academy principal, thanked parents and pupils.

She added: “We must underline the importance of testing to maintain a safe environment for all staff and students and we urge all parents to continue working with us on that mission. We are grateful to Mr Ramkhelawon for writing to parents regarding Monday’s tests. We echo his thanks for parents’ support.”