Two schools in Northern Ireland were forced to close for a deep clean after a young person tested positive for Coronavirus, it has emerged.
The region's Health Minister Robin Swann said that one of five presumptive positive cases announced on Sunday night is a student at one of the schools, Belfast Live reports.
He said: "I can update the House and the general public regarding the 5 presumptive positive cases announced yesterday evening. The Public Health Agency advises that 2 of these cases were travel related involving individuals who had recently been in Northern Italy.
"The remaining 3 cases can be traced to previously reported cases that involved recent travel to Northern Italy. One of the 3 is a young person.
"The individual attends a school which is co-located with a primary school. Both schools have received Public Health advice from PHA Health Protection consultants.
"PHA is content that there is no public health risk to anyone attending either of the schools, however it understands as a precautionary measure both schools will be closing today to undertake an enhanced clean.
"I would also like to reassure the house that contact tracing for all 5 cases is at an advanced stage."
Mr Swann added that as of 9am on Monday March 9, 222 tests have been completed in Northern Ireland, and while the majority of these tests returned negative, 12 came back positive.
His statement added: "All individuals who have tested positive are receiving appropriate specialist health care in keeping with expert advice and agreed procedures. The Public Health Agency have put in place robust infection control measures to help prevent further spread while contact-tracing of those who have come into close contact with the individuals has been undertaken immediately.
"Those requiring appropriate advice will be provided with it. In addition, in light of the increasing number of cases and in wanting to keep the House and members of the public fully informed of what is clearly an evolving situation, I can advise that the Department will be moving to daily reporting of cases, as currently happens in England."
