ARCHIVED - Secondary school in the city of Murcia closed after teacher contracts coronavirus

Image: Colegio San Buenaventura Capuchinos Murcia Facebook

The Capuchinos school has become the first in the Region of Murcia to send pupils home due to Covid-19

The Capuchinos school has become the first in the Region of Murcia to suspend classes due to the coronavirus epidemic, following the news on Wednesday 11th March that one of the teachers at the school is among the 17 people who have tested positive for the virus in the Region.

The school in the centre of the city of Murcia offers classes from pre-school level (for infants aged 2) up to non-compulsory secondary education – the equivalent of the “sixth form” – but the cancellation of classes is only in effect in the upper levels, where the teacher concerned is employed. In other words, students in compulsory and non-compulsory education at the school are required not to attend for the next two weeks.

The teacher concerned was still giving classes as recently as Monday 9^th March, when she taught two CSE groups and two belonging to NCSE: all of the teachers and pupils with whom she came into contact are being advised to place themselves in isolation for the next 14 days. Parents are to receive advice from health service officials, as will the other teachers affected, and with so many staff out of action it is clear that normal service could not have been maintained at the centre.

Primary and infants’ education classes are to continue, however, despite a certain amount of criticism from parents, who point out that although the different levels of education do not share the same classrooms or playgrounds they do use the same corridors, gymnasium and dining room. In addition, of course, many older students have young brothers and sisters in lower levels.

As at 16:00 there are 2,187 cases of coronavirus in Spain, and 49 people are now confirmed to have died.

There are 17 cases in the Region of Murcia.

Click here for the latest official figures regarding the coronavirus epidemic in Spain and the measures implemented by the national and regional governments.

Patients diagnosed with Covid-19 in Murcia

1 - A 27-year-old woman who contracted the virus in Madrid while attending the ARCO contemporary arts fair. In isolation at home.

2 and 3 - A 5-month-old baby and her mother, both of whom had travelled to and from Madrid by bus, returning to Totana. In the Arrixaca hospital in El Palmar.

4 – A 28-year-old friend of the first patient who lives in Valencia but had gone to Madrid with her friend and was diagnosed positive in Murcia. In isolation at home.

5 – A woman who also contracted the virus in Madrid. In isolation at home.

6 and 7 – Two men aged 70 and 26 who were infected in Madrid. In isolation at home.

8 – A man who is believed to have contracted the virus from a contact in Alicante, who originally contracted the virus in Madrid.

9 - A 40-year-old woman with "mild "symptoms who is believed to have contracted the virus in Madrid.

10 – Female Erasmus student who returned from Italy to Cartagena.

11 – Unidentified female patient who was infected in Madrid.

12 to 17 – 6 new cases reported on Wednesday including two in whom the virus was contracted within the Region of Murcia.

What to do if you are in the Region of Murcia and believe you may have contracted the virus

The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212), and also urges people to call the 112 emergency services line if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre. Medical staff will be sent to your home to test for the virus.

The Region’s public hospitals have limited the number of visitors to just one per patient.

Sensible precautions

The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:

- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel

- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!

- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity

- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell

- Don´t panic!