In an email sent on Sunday night, Mr Dowell said the Department of Health and Human Services had offered advice after being advised of the positive test.

"As the staff member has not been present at school since Friday, July 17 and that the staff member does not have any COVID symptoms, there is no current risk for our staff and students and there is no requirement for contact tracing," Mr Dowell said.

"However, the staff member will have to self-isolate for the next 14 days."

On Monday, Mr Dowell told The Standard the staff member had returned a negative test.

"Therefore we know that when that staff member was last at school (on Friday 17th July) the staff member was negative and therefore did not have COVID-19 then," he said.

"We continue to strictly follow the advice of both the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services and also continue to be ultra-vigilant with maintaining our health and hygiene practices with our students, including temperature checking on arrival at school, use of PPE, enhanced cleaning, regular hand washing etc."

Mr Dowell said the advice from the health department was reassuring, but he believed parents, carers and guardians should be made aware of the situation.

"While this advice is reassuring for us, I feel that you still need to be aware of this situation so that you may be able to make an informed decision on whether or not you wish to have you child at school at this time, particularly if they have compromised health issues," he said.

"I would also like to reassure you all that we remain extra vigilant with maintaining our health and hygiene practices with your children, including temperature checking all students on arrival at school, use of masks etc when deemed appropriate, enhanced cleaning, and regular hand washing.

"We are here to help and support."

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.