Almost half of South Ayrshire's schools have been caught up in a Covid surge.
Ayrshire Live can reveal that 20 of our primary and secondary schools have undergone contact tracing operations since May 28.
Worried health chiefs are trying to drive down the soaring infection rate, which has seen the region rise to third highest on the Scottish list.
The county's infection rate currently stands at 178.5 cases per 100,000 people.
Hundreds of pupils across the local authority are currently self-isolating following the spike in cases.
Bosses at NHS Ayrshire & Arran tonight said they investigating links to the new Delta variant of the virus, which is more transmissible.
Lynne McNiven, director of public health, told Ayrshire Live: "NHS Ayrshire & Arran health protection team is aware of a recent increase in the number of positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the South Ayrshire council area.
"As we are seeing from other areas of the country, COVID-19 has not gone away.
"We need to make sure we are all following the Scottish Government guidance.
"If we don’t follow the guidance, there is a significant risk that we could make our family, friends and other close contacts unwell.
"By reducing our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection.
"NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s health protection team is currently investigating links to a COVID-19 variant which is believed to be more transmissible.
"The Delta variant is becoming increasingly more common across Scotland making it more important than ever to stick to the FACTS guidance."
The following list of schools have undergone contact tracing since May 28.
Ms McNiven added: "This does not necessarily mean a school outbreak. Some will have sporadic cases and clusters.
"As schools are part of our communities, when cases are identified within school settings there may be a link with the places and people who live in the nearby area.
"This may not necessarily have Delta variant involvement."
Contact Tracing at South Ayrshire schools
- Annbank Primary School
- Ayr Academy
- Ayr Grammar School
- Belmont Academy
- Cairn Primary School
- Coylton Primary School
- Dalmilling Primary School
- Doonfoot Primary School
- Fisherton Primary School
- Forehill Primary School
- Glenburn Primary School
- Heathfield Primary School
- Kyle Academy
- Prestwick Academy
- St Johns Primary School
- Marr College
- Queen Margaret Academy
- Monkton Primary School
- Struthers Primary School
- Symington Primary School
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