Health chiefs have confirmed that there have been twenty schools in East Ayrshire where COVID has reared its head in the past week.
All of the schools affected have had some form of contact tracing ongoing to identify close contacts of those infected to prevent the spread of the virus.
Students affected have been told to stay at home and in some schools, entire classes have been told not to come in.
The cases have all occurred between June 5-14.
Officials sought to warn the public that because of pupils integration with the wider community, through parents, activities, and such, there could be a link with cases in their neighbourhoods.
It comes as the Health Secretary Humza Yousaf warned yesterday morning that we're at the start of a third wave of coronavirus cases as most areas in the country are seeing rising case numbers.
The increase in case numbers has not yet translated into a surge in hospital admissions. Whilst they have gone up, the increase is nothing like what was seen during the previous two outbreaks.
The following schools are affected:
Lainshaw Primary
Onthank Primary
Kilmarnock Academy
Grange Academy
Drongan Primary
Crosshouse Primary
Annanhill Primary
Whatriggs Primary
Doon Academy
Gargieston Primary
Robert Burns Academy
Nether Robertland Primary
St. Joseph’s Academy
New Cumnock Primary
Lainshaw Primary
Onthank Primary
Kilmarnock Academy
Grange Academy
Drongan Primary
Crosshouse Primary
Lynne McNiven, Director of Public Health with NHS Ayrshire and Arran said: "Contact tracing has taken place in the following East Ayrshire schools between the period of 05/06/2021 – 14/06/2021. Please note that this does not necessarily mean a school outbreak. Some will have sporadic cases and clusters.
"As schools are part of our communities, when cases are identified within school settings there may be a link with the places and people who live in the nearby area. This may not necessarily have Delta variant involvement."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here