Seven members of staff at the same primary school have tested positive for coronavirus, forcing a school to shut after the positive test results. Arboretum Primary School, in Derby, has closed after the announcement. A spokesman for the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust confirmed the closure of the school “due to a number of staff having confirmed cases of COVID-19”.

All staff members are reported to have only suffered mild symptoms from the potentially deadly disease and are recovering at home.

It comes as many primary school pupils returned to the classroom across England for the first time in more than two months today.

A Derby Diocesan Academy Trust spokesman confirmed: “Following one member of staff reporting symptoms, the school quickly identified any other members of staff, parents/carers and/or children who may have been in contact and instructed them to isolate for the Government’s recommended period of 14 days.

“Since then, six members of staff have tested positive and four members of staff who were in contact have tested negative.

“There have been no reports of parents/carers or children displaying symptoms.

“The trust is pleased to confirm that all members of staff affected have experienced only mild symptoms and are recovering well at home.

“In line with guidance, the school has closed this week to allow a deep-clean to be completed and will re-open next week, initially to children of key workers and vulnerable children.”

It is thought the school has been open to key worker and vulnerable children from other schools since lockdown began on March 23.

A Derby City Council spokesman told Derbyshire Live: “The school will re-open on Monday, June 8 and all of those adults who may have been in contact with the affected staff have been informed.”

On Monday thousands of primary school children in Reception and Years 1 and 6 returned to school, though indications suggest the number of pupils back in the classroom varies significantly depending on the region.

A survey of councils by the PA news agency has found dozens of local authorities across England, predominantly in the North, were advising against a return to school on Monday amid safety concerns.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said on Monday he understood parents’ concerns over sending their children back to class, but insisted the Government had taken steps to ensure schools are safe to return to.

Downing Street said it expected the majority of primary schools in England to open to more children this week, with the Prime Minister’s official spokesman insisting: “We have only taken this step because we believe it is safe to do so.”

Wales has not set a date for schools fully reopening, while in Scotland and Northern Ireland pupils will be going back in limited return from August.

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