A PUPIL at Kilcreggan Primary School has been confirmed as having Covid-19.
In a letter to parents on Friday, NHS Highland's consultant in Public Health Medicine, Dr Ken Oates, said the child was last at school on Tuesday, September 15 and contact tracing is now under way.
The announcement comes just days after a cluster of 13 Covid-19 cases was linked to a gathering at Cove and Kilcreggan Bowling Club on Monday, September 7.
The letter to parents states: "The NHS Highland Health Protection Team (HPT) have been advised that there has been a confirmed case of Covid-19 in one of the pupils at the school.
READ MORE: 'Stringent precautions' followed before Kilcreggan Covid-19 outbreak
"We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with the head teacher and Education Service colleagues in Argyll and Bute Council.
"This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child.
"The affected pupil was last at school on Tuesday, September 15. Contact tracing is now under way. Those who have been in direct close contact with the confirmed case are being contacted and they will be asked to stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days.
"The school re-opened for this term with appropriate control measures, including enhanced cleaning in place, in accordance with Scottish Government guidance, and these remain in place.
"This is an evolving situation. Meantime the school remains open and pupils should continue to attend if they remain well. If the situation changes significantly then we will update you and provide further advice as necessary."
The letter also contains advice for parents who may be concerned at sending their children to school following the confirmed coronavirus case.
READ MORE: Parents urged to 'keep calm' after positive cases of Covid-19 at Hermitage Academy
It adds: "As long as your child is well, and as long as other members of the household have no symptoms and are well, then everyone can all go about their normal business, go to work and school etc. Anyone who is well and has no symptoms does not need to be tested.
"If your child develops symptoms of Covid-19, or is confirmed as positive, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and further information on testing can be found on NHS Inform.
"Once a positive case is confirmed in a house, then all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.
"The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
"Household members should not go to work, school, public areas or use public transport.
"Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community."
The most common symptoms of coronavirus are recent onset of:
• new continuous cough and/or
• high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
Please be reassured that for most people, especially for children, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
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