Covid-19 case at Ysgol Calon Cymru's Llandrindod campus

The news was revealed on Sunday evening, October 18, with parents contacted by the school via email to inform them of a positive case, confirmed by NHS Wales’ Test, Trace, Protect team. A screenshot of the initial email was posted by one parent on the Llandrindod Solutions Facebook group, which was seemingly sent out to parents of all pupils. A second screenshot was then posted of a different email, sent to a parent whose child had come into contact with the infected pupil – informing them their child would now need to self-isolate for two weeks.

The school confirmed that the Dyffryn Road-based campus remains open for the time being, although schools in Powys broke up for the October half-term holidays last Friday.

In the email sent out to parents the school said: “NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect has been informed of a confirmed case of Covid-19 in Ysgol Calon Cymru.

“Ysgol Calon Cymru remains open. It is working closely with Public Health Wales, the local authority and NHS Wales to ensure that all appropriate measures are in place to protect students, staff and the wider community. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and to provide advice on how to support your child.

“All close contacts of the case have been identified and have received appropriate advice to self-isolate. Your child has not been identified as a close contact and therefore does not need to self-isolate and does not require testing for Covid-19. They can continue to attend Ysgol Calon Cymru as usual.”

In a separate email sent to parents of children who have been in contact with the affected pupil, however, they were informed they must now self-isolate.

“Your child has been identified as a contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19 and will now need to self-isolate for 14 days from October 13," it said. "By identifying contacts and asking them to self-isolate we will reduce the possible spread of Covid-19 from those contacts to their family, friends and the wider community.

“Self-isolation advice requires your child to stay at home, not to go outdoors to exercise, to visit shops, family or friends, or to other public spaces. Please do not invite people to your house.

“If your child remains well then the other members of the household do not need to isolate and can continue their normal activities. If your child is still well at the end of the 14-day period of self-isolation, they can return to Ysgol Calon Cymru and their usual activities.”

Schools in Powys are now on half-term break from Monday (October 19) for two weeks, with pupils set to return on Monday, November 2.

The revelation of the case comes on the same day that a leaked letter hinted at a 17-day “circuit break” lockdown that will likely come into force in Wales from 6pm this Friday, October 23.

The Welsh Government is due to announce a decision on whether to impose a national lockdown on Monday, but details were outlined in a letter sent to transport operators from John Pockett, director of the Confederation of Passenger Transport Cymru. It was leaked and posted by political blogger Bubble Wales on Twitter on Saturday.

The letter said the short-term lockdown will last until 0.01am on Monday, November 9. A circuit breaker is a short, set period of maybe two or three weeks, where tighter restrictions are brought in to break the trajectory of coronavirus cases rising.