Tenby’s Greenhill School will close for a week as ‘a precautionary measure’ due to a rise in Covid cases, with learning to move online and be delivered remotely.

The school closed today (Friday, June 18), with learning moving to remote online for all year groups via Google Classroom following normal lesson timings from Monday (June 21).

Staff will continue to work from school as usual.

According to a statement from the school’s headmaster, Ray McGovern, the plan is to re-open the school for ‘face-to-face’ learning on Monday, June 28, but this will be dependent on the number of cases and numbers being required to self-isolate ‘falling substantially’.

As part of the community response to the current increase in rates, a Mobile Testing Unit will be set up in the Tenby area for two weeks from Monday (June 21) by Public Health Wales.

“As you will be aware, this week we have been managing a number of confirmed positive Covid tests. This has required us to manage a very significant Track, Trace and Protect operation alongside NHS Wales and we are most grateful to them and the Local Authority for their support,” said Mr. McGovern in a statement from Greenhill School.

“I would also like to reassure everyone that whilst a number of the individuals who have tested positive are unwell, none are seriously so, and most report what might be best described as the usual season flu symptoms.”

The decision was made by the school in response to First Minister Mark Drakeford's statement yesterday showing the growth of cases in Wales via community contact.

“Clearly, our locality and the school are part of this picture of increased rates,” continued Mr. McGovern.

“We are doing and will continue to do all we can as a school to reverse this trend and minimise the impact on individuals’ health, but this will require everyone to do their part

“During the week we have fogged every classroom and communal area to ensure every space was hygienically clean.”

The secondary school had previously been only partially open since Monday, June 14, with all Year 10 learners required to learn from home after a number were in ‘close contact’ with a person who tested positive for Covid-19.