Several staff members at a North Ayrshire home care service have tested positive for coronavirus.

Contact tracing is underway at Ayrshire Quality Care and Support, based in Irvine, following the COVID-19 outbreak.

Individuals who have been identified as close contacts have already been contacted directly by NHS Ayrshire and Arran's Test and Protect team and told to self-isolate for ten days.

Dr Joy Tomlinson, Joint Director of Public Health, said: "NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Test and Protect team is carrying out COVID-19 contact tracing following a number of positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases related to a local workplace in North Ayrshire.

"Our Contact Tracers will work with North Ayrshire Environmental Health Officers to manage and monitor the situation.

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

Ayrshire Quality Care and Support did not respond to a request for comment.