An Aberdeenshire primary school has been closed after a member of staff contracted Covid-19.

Aberdeenshire Council said a small number of staff from Peterhead Central Primary School are self-isolating after a case was confirmed within the school team.

Pupils had not yet returned to the school, which was closed on Wednesday due to weather issues.

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The school will remain shut today and parents have been informed of the situation.

Coronavirus keeps primary school closed

NHS Grampian said it was working to trace close contacts.

An Aberdeenshire Council spokeswoman said: “A number of staff from Peterhead Central Primary School are currently self-isolating following the identification of a confirmed case of coronavirus within the school team.

“Test and Protect procedures have been followed, and the school will be closed today (Thursday). Parents have been advised.”

NHS Grampian said it was working closely with the council. A health board spokeswoman said: “We are investigating a detected case of Covid-19, connected with a primary school in Peterhead.

“Our health protection and Test and Protect teams are working hard to establish who close contacts may be and advising them to isolate.

“We are also working very closely with our colleagues at Aberdeenshire Council.”

The news follows the announcement by the education secretary, John Swinney, yesterday that school staff will be able to request a coronavirus test, even if they have no symptoms. It also comes after a number of cases in the Glasgow coronavirus cluster were linked to a secondary school.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said a number of youngsters at Bannerman High School in Baillieston were among eight cases identified.

But, while the school reopened yesterday, none of the students attended, the health board said.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she expects coronavirus outbreaks to happen in schools as children return to classes.

She said they are likely to occur in secondary schools, in particular, with older pupils able to catch and transmit the virus more easily.

The first pupils returned to school in Scotland in the Scottish Borders and some in Shetland on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in Scotland, pupils returned from Wednesday, but the severe weather and storms in parts of Scotland delayed the return for some.