A NUMBER of pupils at a Hereford secondary school have been told to self-isolate after a child tested positive for coronavirus.

One Year 10 pupils at the Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School was sent home on Friday and tested on the same day.

They were then confirmed as having Covid-19 and as a result, their year group "bubble" has also been told to self-isolate as they may have been in close-contact.

"I am writing to you with the unfortunate news that a positive Covid test has been identified in the year group bubble through test and trace," headteacher Martin Henton said in a letter to parents.

"The individual was collected from school on Friday and tested on this date. The test results were shared with the school late last night, and I now require you to collect your child from school as soon as possible this morning.

"Please come to the car park to collect your child. If they can walk home they should leave the site and go immediately to the house for isolation.

"In line with the government guidance document and based on advice from the health protection team, we are now required to ask you to keep your child at home.

"Your child may have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for Covid-19. Your child must now self-isolate for 14 days which is until October 30.

"Household members do not need to self-isolate themselves unless the child who is self-isolating subsequently develops symptoms. If your child develops symptoms then you should follow household guidance."

ALSO READ: Herefordshire schools that have confirmed coronavirus cases

Other Herefordshire schools to have confirmed coronavirus cases so far include Queen Elizabeth High School in Bromyard, Ross-on-Wye's John Kyrle High School and Whitecross Hereford High School.

A spokesperson for the school, in Hampton Dene Road, added: "Following the information reported to us from the family of a year 10 student who has tested positive for Covid, we have immediately contacted Public Health England this morning to be guided on how to respond.

"As our students are organised into year group bubbles, we were advised that all students who had possibly been in contact with them, should follow the government guidance and isolate for 14 days."

"We would like to extend our thanks to the families of all year 10 students for supporting us in this very quick decision that we had to make this morning.

"It was great to see that all of the planning that we had put into place was achieved quickly and efficiently. All year 10 lessons will continue on line during their period out of school.