TWO primary schools in Herefordshire where there have been a number of children test positive for coronavirus will remain closed into next week.

Luston and Shobdon Primary Schools, which work together in a federation under one executive headteacher, have been closed since March 12.

All children and staff at the two schools near Leominster were told they should take part in a mass testing programme, organised by Herefordshire Council's outbreak control hub, and more people, including those who were not showing symptoms, tested positive.

In an update to parents of children at the schools, Herefordshire's director of public health Rebecca Howell-Jones said a "very small number of further cases have been identified through symptomatic individuals being tested and mass testing for those without symptoms" at Shobdon Primary School.

The school will remain closed until Tuesday, March 23, and those who tested positive, or were deemed to be a close contact, will still need to self-isolate until the end of the 10-day period.

Shobdon Arches Preschool will also be closed until Tuesday.

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At Luston Primary School, Dr Howell-Jones said more cases were found during the mass testing programme.

These cases "impacted" some but not all key stage two classes, she said.

"The school will, however, remain closed until March 26 due to the need for staff members to self-isolate and the need for some children to isolate at home – impacting on parents and therefore staff availability across all year groups.”

She added: “We’d like to thank all staff, parents and children who have taken up the offer of testing.

"There has been a great response and take up.

"This has been really important in helping us understand the spread of infection through the schools and pre-schools and inform the action required."

The cases were first reported by the school on Friday, March 12, and mass testing started just two days later.