Resort schools tell parents to keep sick children at home after Christmas break

Parents of schoolchildren in Southport are being urged to keep children off school if they are unwell and have a fever, amid high levels of flu and Covid-19 cases.

The same applies for nurseries, according to advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The number of scarlet fever cases is also high, it warned.

A head teachers’ union welcomed the advice, issued as pupils prepare to return to lessons after the Christmas holidays.

Flu and Covid cases are “currently circulating at high levels and are likely to continue to increase in coming weeks”, the UKHSA said.

“High numbers of scarlet fever, which is caused by group A streptococcus, also continue to be reported.”

Prof Susan Hopkins, its chief medical adviser, said: “If your child is unwell and has a fever, they should stay home from school or nursery until they feel better and the fever has resolved.”

She also stressed the importance of washing hands and catching coughs and sneezes in tissues.

Adults should also stay at home when unwell and wear a face covering if they have to go out, she said. Those who are ill should avoid healthcare settings and vulnerable people unless urgent, she added.