A school pupil at Caldervale High School in Airdrie has tested positive for Covid-19 bringing the total involved in a new Lanarkshire cluster to eight.

NHS Lanarkshire say the pupil, who is self-isolating at home along with immediate family, attended school on Thursday, August 13. 

The board said there is currently no evidence to suggest that there is transmission in the school and the risk to the wider school community has currently been assessed as low.

NHS Lanarkshire’s Test and Protect are in the process of tracing other close contacts. The team has also identified that the likely source of transmission has been as a result of indoor social gatherings.

READ MORE: Community investigation launched after Lanarkshire pupils test positive for Covid-19

The board said all parents of the school have been notified and it will open as normal tomorrow.

A community-wide investigation is already underway into a cluster affecting three pupils from St Ambrose High School in Coatbridge, one pupil at St Andrew’s High School along with three other linked cases who are not pupils or staff at the schools.

Dr David Cromie, NHS Lanarkshire consultant in public health, said: “Our Test and Protect service is contacting anyone who may have been in close contact with the case. NHS Lanarkshire is working closely with North Lanarkshire Council and the school to identify all close contacts of the case who are being given public health advice and being told to self-isolate.

READ MORE: Health chiefs investigating if Covid clusters in North East of Glasgow and Lanarkshire are linked 

“With the route of transmission likely to be through indoor social gatherings, I would urge all parents and young people to stick to the Scottish Government rules in order to avoid future cases within the community resulting in cases in the local schools.”

No more than eight people from a maximum of three households are permitted to gather indoors. Social distancing applies to anyone from separate households, unless they are under the age of 12.

Dr Cromie added: “We are aware that there will still be concern both for pupils and their parents/carers at this time and I wanted to reassure them that all settings which the individual has attended during their infectious period are being identified and assessed."