Covid cases now confirmed at 68 Greater Manchester schools as parents say they're being kept in the dark

reached 331. Today a further 23 have been confirmed across the region, bringing the total to 354.

reached 331. Now a further 23 have been confirmed - and that's only the ones the Manchester Evening News has been alerted to.

topped 300. Now a further 17 have been confirmed - and that's only the ones the Manchester Evening News has been alerted to.

Manchester Evening News only able to confirm cases after being alerted by parents - it's likely there are many more. Yesterday we revealed how the number of schools reporting confirmed Covid cases since children returned in September had reached 314.

Manchester Evening News only able to confirm cases after being alerted by parents - it's likely there are many more. Yesterday we revealed how the number of schools reporting confirmed Covid cases since children returned in September had reached 294.

reached 294.

close for a week after a 'significant number' of staff tested positive for Covid, and Loreto High in Chorlton, where Year 7s are isolating after a confirmed case.

here"We apologise for the message sent to our students last night about posters in windows, it didn't reflect the University's view," the tweet read."We respect the rights of students to express themselves, but as requested by Greater Manchester Police the posters must not break the law or they'll have to be removed."Students said the first they knew of the lockdown at the halls of residents was when security guards appeared at the front gates.Megan Tingey, 19, is a fresher at Birley.She tested

“We have taken this decision to protect our pupils and staff, whose safety is always our highest priority."Some schools which already had a number of children isolating have sent further groups home, including Fairfield High School for Girls in Droylsden where there's been another confirmed case in Year 10 and at Corpus Christi RC Primary in Oldham, where the Nursery and Reception bubble is now also isolating.Elton High in Bury has also had another confirmed case, which has affected a small

reported last weekend that a number of students were already self isolating at the Birley campus, in Hulme, days after a 100-strong party was reported in the courtyard.Since then, case numbers have soared to 127 across that site and Cambridge Halls, with a number of other students also recording symptoms.

hereThis was the equivalent of around 22 per cent of the nearly 6.1 million FTE sickness days lost during the period across all staff groups in the NHS in England.The data showed that during the peak of the outbreak in April there were 690,569 FTE days lost due to Covid-19 - 30.6 per cent of the nearly 2.3 million absences recorded that month.At Stockport NHS Trust, more than a quarter (27.6 per cent) of sick days lost were Covid-19-related, the highest proportion locally.Both Stockport NHS

reached 272 across the region. But with no official list available of all the bubble closures - and the Manchester Evening News confirming cases after being alerted by parents - it's likely there are many more.

a fifth of schools across the region, comes little over a fortnight after pupils started the new academic year. And with no official list available of all the bubble closures - and the Manchester Evening News only able to confirm cases after being alerted by parents - it's likely there are many more.

a fifth of the region's schools (247) have had confirmed cases - among either pupils, staff or both. At one secondary - Philips High in Whitefield, Bury - there have been 18 positive tests and the whole of Year 11 has been sent home.

Manchester Evening News brings the total to 247. While some of those affected have now returned to class, we have not been alerted to every bubble closure, so the true figure is expected to be even higher.

How has sending your child back to school been for you so far? Let us know in the survey below. If it fails to load click here. A spokesman for Bury Council told the Manchester Evening News that the situation has improved over the last week - including special arrangements enabling school staff to access tests through the testing centre at Waterfold and the opening of a third walk-in testing centre at Whitefield Library.

Ladybridge High in Bolton where every year group has been affected.

risen again today - to 177.Among the cases confirmed today is the full closure of a second primary school in Greater Manchester.St Luke's Primary in Heywood had already sent home pupils in Years 2, 3 and 6, but now it's been forced to shut to all year groups amid 'staffing issues'.While some schools continue to send home entire year groups, others have more recently been restricting self-isolations to close contacts of confirmed cases - using seating plans to help identify those individuals they

full closure of a second primary school.St Luke's Primary in Heywood had already sent home pupils in Years 2, 3 and 6, but now it's been forced to shut to all year groups amid 'staffing issues'.Other primary schools have been sending home bubbles after confirmed cases, including Broadoak Primary in Swinton, where there's been a positive case, and Charlestown Primary, in Blackley, where Year 5 are isolating.Some schools which already had a number of children at home have had to tell more to stay

new helpline has been set up by the government to make it easier for settings to get advice on what steps to take following a positive case.