GLASGOW teachers are being urged to use the Covid-19 test and protect app properly to keep themselves safe and prevent false alarms.

It comes after fears were raised at Thursday’s full council meeting where Labour councillor Aileen McKenzie questioned her SNP counterpart on advice and support given to teachers and other members of staff.

The exchange came after claims that teachers have been told to disable the Protect app, despite Government advice.

SNP councillor Chris Cunningham said: “There has been no communication from the executive director of education or any other member of the education directorate asking school or nursery staff to turn off the test and protect app when they are going about their work with their phone.I can confirm that the executive director asked heads to discuss the corporate advice on the use of the protect app in September.

“There have been situations in schools and nurseries where staff have left their phones, with the Bluetooth on, in lockers or in staff rooms because it is not possible to carry their phones given their role. This then defeats the purpose of the app, which is designed to keep us all safe, and opens the possibility of false alarms.

“Clearly the app is intended to work when the individual has their phone with them when they come into close contact with someone who has tested positive and has their phone with them.

“The test and protect app is an important part of the overall features to safeguard us against the spread of covid but it is not the only safeguard and it is open the kind of false alert which I have just described.

“It is intended to work when the person has their phone with them. In order for the app to work efficiently you should switch off their phone or disable Bluetooth when you do not have it about your person.”

During the meeting Ms McKenzie said that teachers had teachers were being asked to switch their app off. She said one teacher didn’t understand why limited access to primary health care was not deemed a problem but blended learning in school was.

Commenting she said: “Teachers are being asked to go to their work every single day and are terrified to do so. They love their job, but they don’t feel safe. The SNP convener in charge simply didn’t have an answer, and their concerns fell on deaf ears. A vaccine might be being rolled out, but it’ll be months before we get back to normal. In the meantime, those in charge need to roll up their sleeves to keep our teachers and support staff safe. That is why Glasgow Labour is supporting the EIS call that the last few days of term become remote learning days, to try and protect staff and pupils as much as possible.”