Headteachers have either sent home the infected individual and class bubble, and others have sent home entire year groups DURING the past few weeks a number of pupils and staff from schools in Essex have tested positive for Covid-19. Headteachers have either sent home the infected individual and class bubble, and others have sent home entire year groups in a bid to prevent the virus spreading. On Wednesday Essex County Council said more than 5,000 pupils were isolating and in Southend a further 2,183 pupils were self-isolating. A spokesman said: "Approximately 5,674 school pupils are self-isolating in the ECC area, this figure also includes academies and colleges.”