Elgin Academy has been shut to everyone today following the late reporting of Covid tests.
The secondary school has registered a number of positive coronavirus cases over the last month, with a number of pupils self-isolating.
Now, it has been shut for the whole day, so that health officials can complete test and trace procedures.
Many of the students take lateral flow tests on Sunday nights before going to school the next day.
A statement from Elgin Academy said: “We are informing all parents and pupils that due to a late notification of a number of lateral flow tests from public health, the school will be closed to all pupils and staff on Monday.
“This will allow public health time to complete their contact tracing processes.”
Pupils urged to play their part to reduce spread of cases
In a statement to families, Moray Council’s head of education Vivienne Cross encouraged pupils to keep social distancing outwith school and to wear face coverings and take the twice-weekly lateral flow tests.
She said: “We anticipated a rise in the number of cases as all secondary school pupils returned to full-time in-school learning. This is being experienced and is having an impact.
“We’re setting out the expectations of our learners, both in and out of school, and collectively we can minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus and reduce any disruption to in-school learning.
“Those who are being asked by public health to isolate have access to remote learning and we commend our schools’ ability to action this quickly for pupils.
“We are assured by public health colleagues that the mitigations in place in our schools are robust, and we will continue with all enhanced cleaning regimes and safety measures.”
Covid in Moray
Covid cases in Moray have been labelled a cause for concern in recent weeks, with the Press and Journal revealing that a third of all Covid cases in Grampian currently come from the IV30 postcode area, which encompasses Elgin, Burghead, Lhanbryde, Hopeman and surrounding communities.
Figures published by Public Health Scotland show Moray currently has a Covid infection rate of 44.9, per 100,000 of population.
This is more than double the positivity rate in Aberdeen, which is 21 per 100,000, and nearly treble Aberdeenshire’s, which is 11.9.