London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Covid in Scotland: More than 32,000 school pupils absent this week

Covid in Scotland: More than 32,000 school pupils absent this week

More than 32,000 pupils have been absent from school this week due to Covid-19.

The most up-to-date figures - for Tuesday - show that 6,471 pupils were not in school because they had the virus and 25,622 were self-isolating.

The number of pupils with Covid has gone up by almost 3,500 in a week, while those isolating have doubled from 12,636 the week before.

Whole classes no longer need to isolate following a positive case.

Due to the relaxation of the rules, many pupils are likely to be off school for just one or two days if their test is negative, rather than 10 days.

BBC Scotland previously reported that almost half of pupils at St Ninian's High School in Kirkintilloch were absent on Tuesday due to Covid.

It was understood that more than 400 pupils did not attend the school, which has a pupil roll of 850.

Many of the pupils were thought to be isolating while awaiting PCR test results.

East Dunbartonshire Council said families had adopted a "cautious approach".


Under the new Scottish government rules, sitting next to someone in class is no longer a guarantee of being deemed a close contact.

The guidance says close contacts are likely to be parents and siblings, those who have stayed overnight, and those who have had "clear, prolonged contact".

A close contact will now only be formally notified by local public health teams.

If someone is deemed a close contact, they must isolate, book a PCR test and wait for the result. If the result is negative, they can return to school.

This can mean as little as one day away from lessons.

As was the case previously, someone with a positive result must remain at home for the full self-isolation period.

'Targeted approach'


On Tuesday, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the new rules were based on analysis of data over the past year. She said it was a targeted approach which identified children and young people who were higher-risk close contacts.

Ms Somerville said the new approach reflected the changes in the public health impact of Covid achieved through high vaccination coverage, as well as "evidence about the risks of infection and transmission amongst children, young people and staff in schools, set against the educational harms that result from large numbers of children and young people self-isolating".

Scotland's Covid cases have been surging in the last week, with 6,400 new cases reported on Thursday and a further 17 deaths.

Case numbers doubled in a week and Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the rise was partly being fuelled by the return of schools after the summer holidays.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×