Coronavirus cases have been confirmed at five Tayside high schools.
NHS Tayside said on Thursday there are a “small number” of pupils with cases at both St John’s RC School and Harris Academy in Dundee, as well as individuals at Baldragon Academy and Craigie High School in the city.
Parents of Monifieth High School youngsters have been contacted about a pupil in S6 testing positive, but the health board did not confirm this when asked.
An email sent to a parent of one close contact, seen by The Courier, said: “A single case of confirmed Covid-19 has been reported in a person who attends Monifieth High School in Angus.
“Your child has been identified by NHS Tayside’s health protection team as a close contact and should now self isolate as a precaution.”
The number of cases at St John’s has not been confirmed but in a statement on the school’s website, Harris Academy head teacher Barry Millar confirmed one case in S3 and another in S6.
Close contacts of the teens at all schools have been asked to self isolate for 14 days and all five remain open.
An NHS Tayside spokesperson said: “NHS Tayside’s Health Protection Team is aware of a small number of cases of Covid-19 in pupils linked to St John’s RC School and Harris Academy in Dundee.
“All close contacts have been identified and have been advised to self-isolate. There is no evidence of school transmission and the head teachers have been in contact with parents.
“The health protection team is also aware of individual cases at Baldragon Academy and Craigie High School in Dundee. Close contacts are being identified and are being advised to self isolate.
“Parents of the wider school population in all schools have been reassured that if they have not been contacted individually, their child has not been identified as a contact of the cases. They can continue to attend school and undertake other activities as normal.”
Parents of children at all schools were also reassured self isolation was being treated as a precaution and that staff are working with NHS Tayside to minimise infection.
A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of cases in these schools and have been working closely with NHS Tayside.
“With the assistance of public health, we are ensuring that the appropriate measures are being taken.
“These schools have communicated with all families in the school community directly about this.”
Any parents with concerns are asked to contact the public health team on 01382 596 976/987.
It comes after Tayside recorded 104 new coronavirus cases from Wednesday into Thursday – the highest in the area since the pandemic began.
One of the 17 Scottish Covid-19 deaths in the past day was registered in Angus.
