Pupils from Years 10 and 12, along with a number of staff members at Whitland secondary school Ysgol Dyffryn Taf have been told to work from home from today (Monday, June 21) ‘as a precaution’ following two positive Covid tests at the facility.

The school has stated that it is working closely with Carmarthenshire County Council and NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect (TTP), and are following all the advice and guidance provided.

Correspondence sent out to parents, from the school’s headteacher Julian Kennedy and local authority stated: “We have been informed that two individuals at our school have tested positive for Covid-19. We would like to reassure you that there is no immediate cause for concern and provide you with as much information as possible.

“Pupils in Years 10 and 12 have been identified as potentially coming into close contact with the individuals that have tested positive.

“We are requesting that all pupils in Years 10 and 12, and those staff members who may have been close contacts of the individuals, self-isolate and work from home whilst further investigations are undertaken.

“We, or the TTP Team, will contact you within the next 24/48 hours to confirm whether a period of self-isolation is required for 10 days, or whether pupils and staff can return to school.

“This process of testing and contact tracing is part of the ‘new normal’ and where schools follow these guidelines carefully, there is no cause for alarm.

“It is important that we all remain vigilant and maintain social distancing, continue to wash our hands frequently and wear a face covering where required to prevent the spread of the virus as much as we can,” the statement added.