SCHOOL staff are becoming increasingly ‘worried’ by rising Covid cases in the county with the virus causing ‘significant’ disruption.

Heath chiefs in Cumbria said more schools have been affected than at any other one time during the course of the pandemic.

There is said to have been a ‘rapid’ rise in cases in the county, with most infections affecting people aged between 12 and 30.

As many as 55 schools are reported to be dealing with incidents, 10 are in full outbreak status and three are closed.

And school staff are feeling anxious about the situation, according to one education union representative.

Chris Brooksbank, the National Education Union secretary for Cumbria, said: “We’re in a difficult position.

“School staff will be very concerned and worried they are in a situation where infections are being transmitted.

“Many of them won’t have had their two jabs.

“They’re going to be very anxious about what’s happening.

“Although we’ve not a huge number of deaths from the virus recently it does seem to be causing illness.

“We need to do redouble our efforts with any precautions.”

In response to increasing cases among young people, Cumbria County Council has launched ‘surge testing’ and is asking everyone aged 12 to 30 to get a PCR test.

School age children are being offered testing in school, while those not of school age can attend a local PCR test site or get a test delivered to their home via gov.uk.

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s director of public health, said: “The rapid spread of Covid is concerning, particularly among younger age groups but we are not yet seeing a significant impact on our hospitals which is good news and reflects success of the vaccine roll-out.

“However, the high number of cases is causing serious disruption in schools, with this week having the highest number of schools affected at any one time during the pandemic.

“Our contact tracing work has shown infections started to rise after half-term when people had been on holiday or mixed more widely, but transmission is now happening within schools and families.

“Our surge testing campaign continues, and I’d like to thank the thousands of people who have already heeded the call and been tested.

“By helping us find people who are infectious, surge testing gives us a chance to get a grip on this and prevent further spread.”

Mr Cox urged people to get tested and get vaccinated.