'Almost half' of pupils absent and self-isolating from East Dunbartonshire high school

Reports of the high absence rate were confirmed by East Dunbartonshire Council this morning.

St Ninian's High School in Kirkintilloch
Author: Linsey HannaPublished 1st Sep 2021

Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer is calling for covid testing in Kirkintilloch, following a surge in cases at a high school in the area.

He's asking for door to door testing in the area and surrounding villages to help contain the covid spike, which has seen almost half of pupils at St Ninian's High School absent and self-isolating.

Reports of the high absence rate were confirmed by East Dunbartonshire Council this morning, with 405 pupils at home yesterday from a school roll of 850.

Commenting, local Green MSP Ross Greer said: "St Ninians pupils, staff and their families should be praised for taking this cautious approach in the face surging infections. By staying at home until their PCR test results are confirmed, they are protecting the wider community and particularly those who are most vulnerable to the virus.

"When there was an outbreak in the Southside of Glasgow earlier in the year we saw public health teams go door-to-door to offer testing, which identified and contained the outbreak.

"A similar approach should now be taken in Kirkintilloch and the surrounding villages, to provide much needed reassurance for the community."

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