Camelsdale Primary School parents have been alerted that a family at the school is in self-quarantine until Friday, March 6, following contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus.

In a letter to parents, staff and governors yesterday (Feb 28) headteacher Sarah Palmer said the school had been notified at the end of the day and the family had been informed by Public Health England they they needed to self-quarantine for a week.

The family had met with friends, including the confirmed case on February 23.

Mrs Palmer wrote: ‘The friends of the family were ill for two days. Our family is still well.

‘The advice to us from the Department for Education and West Sussex County Council is that we do not have to close the school or have it specially cleaned.

‘Contacts our family) are not considered cases if they are well.

‘They are very unlikely to have spread the infection to others.

‘Everyone should continue to be vigilant with hand washing and sneezing.

‘We will reinforce the hygiene aspect with the children generally next week, please do so at home.

‘We will keep in close contact with the family concerned for any updates, which we will communicate with you as necessary.”

It has not yet been confirmed if the friend diagnosed is the Haslemere Health Centre patient who was transferred on Friday to a specialist NHS infection centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London.

The health centre closed for a deep clean as a precautionary measure on Friday morning but re-opened this morning.