Contact tracing is being carried out at Cumnock Academy and Auchinleck Academy following a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Parents received a letter on Monday, September 28 which detailed the positive coronavirus case and assured that close contacts were being contacted.

Parents, staff and pupils were also advised on what to do should they develop symptoms.

The letter reads: "NHS Ayrshire & Arran's Health Protection Team is conducting a contact tracing exercise in relation to a confirmed case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. The risk to pupils is very low.

"Close contacts are being contacted by the NHS Ayrshire & Arran's Test and Protect Team and told to self-isolate at home for 14 days.

"If your child is contacted by our Test and Protect Team to let them know they are a close contact of somebody with COVID-19, they do not need a test, but must isolate for 14 days.

"If you are not contacted by our Test and Protect Team, this means that your child has not been identified as a contact and therefore is not at increased risk."

Lynne McNiven, Director of Public Health, said: "NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Test & Protect team is conducting a contact tracing exercise within a secondary school in the East Ayrshire Council area, who have had contact with a confirmed case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

"These individuals are being contacted by the Test and Protect team and told to self-isolate at home for 14 days.

"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.

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