A SCHOOL in Bolton has introduced a range of measures following a recent surge in Covid-19 cases.

Bolton School boys’ division has reintroduced masks and virtual assemblies.

Headteacher Philip Britton said the school had implemented a “first-stage contingency response”.

He told The Bolton News: “As per government guidance we have been in consultation with Public Health. This dialogue is triggered once there is a cluster of five connected cases. We have worked well together – our focus being on keeping as many children learning in school as possible.”

The reintroduction of measures will be reviewed after a fortnight.

The school has moved to hold information evenings remotely for at least two weeks.

Mr Britton announced the steps the school was taking on the school’s social media accounts.

Posting about information evenings, he wrote: “This is a shame as the ones we have had in person have been great occasions seeing one another again.

“Hopefully this cluster of cases will pass.”

Bolton Council’s Director of Public Health, Dr Helen Lowey, said: “We continue to monitor case rates and as of this week, more than 90 per cent of pupils are attending school on site.

“However, it is important to remember that Covid has not gone away and measures such as hand washing, face coverings and regular home testing remain vital to stop the virus spreading.

“In line with government guidance, vaccines will be offered to all 12-15-year-olds in Bolton, giving extra protection and reducing the risk of Covid-19 spreading in schools.

“Our schools have robust safety measures in place and the council’s public health team are on hand to provide support and guidance should cases increase.”

Nationally, approximately half of children have already had Covid-19, while the rest are more likely to contract the virus without a vaccine, England’s Chief Medical Officer has suggested.

Professor Chris Whitty said that “quite a lot of damage in terms of disruption” could still occur throughout the winter months.

Professor Whitty recently told MPs: “Let’s make an assumption that the great majority of children who’ve not currently had Covid-19 are going to get it at some point over the next period. It won’t be necessarily in the next two or three months but they will get it sooner or later.”

He said that, as far as scientists can tell, the “highest rate of transmission” is currently occurring in exam year students.