Glasgow Education Chief: Children’s sleepovers are ‘spreading Covid’ in schools

Coronavirus is being spread across Glasgow’s schools by children’s sleepovers and other social events for young people, the council’s education chief has warned.

In a letter to parents, Maureen McKenna said it was “very disappointing” to hear that sleepovers were being held.

It warned that “notable numbers” of children were falling behind in their education because they were self-isolating.

Glasgow is preparing for the move to Level 4 of Scotland’s regional lockdown system from 6pm on Friday.

The city will face the strictest lockdown measures allowed under current legislation, including a ban on in-home socialising, and the closure of all hospitality venues.

Schools, however, will remain open.

Ms McKenna wrote that a "small number of families" had been hosting sleepovers for primary school-aged children and social events for teenagers.

In her letter, she insisted that people had to work together to reduce case numbers.

"This means that we all need to make sacrifices and that our children will not be able to play as freely as we might wish - but by sticking to the rules they will be able to return to a more normal situation much quicker,” she wrote.

"It has been very disappointing to hear of a small number of families from our schools hosting sleepovers for primary-aged children and social events for groups of teenagers which have resulted in increased numbers testing positive and notable numbers missing out on school due to self-isolation."

Glasgow currently has the highest rate of cases in Scotland, according to figures from Public Health Scotland.

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