The canteen at Ysgol Friars in Bangor is likely to remain closed for two weeks, after a member of staff tested positive for Coronavirus.

Parents of children at the school received notifiaction of the closure on Monday, 7 September, from Headmaster Mr Neil Foden, who said: “A member of the canteen staff received a positive Covid-19 test result at the weekend. We have no evidence this was contracted in the school and the timescale suggests it did not originate here.

“As a precaution, we have decided not to wait for the outcome of track and trace but have closed the canteen until further notice. It will be closed at breaktime.

“At lunchtime, packed lunches will be served to free school meal pupils. All others will need to be provided with packed lunches by parents.

“Breakfast club will be moved to the hall but no food or drink will be provided.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a member of the council’s staff who works in Ysgol Friars’ kitchen has tested positive for coronavirus.

“As a precautionary measure, all the kitchen staff have been advised to stay home and to arrange a Covid-19 test. The school canteen has been temporarily closed so that a deep-clean can be carried out with pupils asked to bring packed-lunches for the time being.

“Ysgol Friars is working closely with the Council’s Education Department and Health, Safety and Wellbeing team to ensure that all appropriate measures are in place to protect pupils, staff and the wider community.

“The school remains open for pupils. In the meantime, anybody who is concerned that they or a member of their family may have Coronavirus symptoms should request a test immediately. Information about how to do so is available from https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test.”

In a follow-up email today, Mr Foden said: “Further to my previous messages, we believe the canteen may remain closed up to and including Friday 18th September.

“I will write to you again when I have a confirmed date for its reopening.

“In the meantime, the provision of packed lunches will continue.”