CORONAVIRUS emergency procedures have been put in place at Largs school after a child tested positive for Covid-19.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran's health protection team is working with staff at Largs Academy after a confirmed case involving a teenage pupil at the school.

The News understand the child who has contracted the virus is in fourth year - with contact tracing procedures immediately actioned.

Parents were alerted to the positive test through a group email sent out by the school's head teacher John Doherty.

It said: "NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Health Protection Team is conducting a contact tracing exercise with a small number of pupils in Largs Academy who have had contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus infection.

"The NHS is contacting the parents of pupils who are required to self isolate by telephone. Only pupils who have been contacted should self isolate.

"As a school, we will be in touch with these families to discuss your child's wellbeing and next steps in supporting their learning during the period of self isolation."

Mr Doherty ended by saying the school continues to follow the advice of Public Health Scotland and stated that the 'safety of our staff and young people' remains the school's 'utmost priority'.

The News understands that NHS Ayrshire and Arran's test and protest team has contacted a number of local families and informed them of the names of pupils required to self-isolate at home until the middle of the month.

A letter was also sent to all parents of Academy pupils by health chiefs detailing the 14-day quarantine procedure for at-risk pupils.

The letter by Lynne McNiven, Interim Director of Public Health said: "We appreciate this is a very worrying time. However, we would like to assure people that every measure is being taken to protect pupils and staff.

""We would like to remind people of the symptoms of coronavirus: new cough; high temperature and / or loss of taste and smell. Anyone who develops any of these symptoms should book a test and self-isolate immediately.

"If your child develops COVID-19 symptoms and you are ill or worried about their health, call NHS 24 on 111 for medical help. Only call NHS 24 if you need medical advice to deal with your illness.

"It is important to note that if you have been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case then you will still need to self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result of any test.

"To respect and maintain patient confidentiality it is not possible to release any further information at this time."

One parent told the News: "Obviously people are worried. We didn't expect to see a pupil down here test positive for Covid-19 but I suppose there was always a risk of this when the schools went back.

"The school seems on top of matters and hopefully this turns out to be an isolated case."