FOUR members of staff at a secondary school in Earley have tested positive for coronavirus.

In a letter to parents dated September 23, Maiden Erlegh School's headteacher Mr Gibson confirmed four staff members have tested positive for coronavirus.

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The letter said: "We know that you will find this concerning and we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England and Public Health at Wokingham Local Authority. "This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. "Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness."

It continued: "The students who have been in direct prolonged contact with the confirmed cases will have received an individual email in addition to this one and will be staying at home for 14 days from the initial contact.

"The school remains open and if you have not received an email informing you that your child should self-isolate then they should continue to attend if they are well."

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Mr Gibson explained Ingrid Slade from Public Health Wokingham provided the following information from the Local Authority.

The letter said: "There is community spread of Covid-19 in the country and it was expected that there would be some cases in schools.

"Maiden Erlegh School has been notified of 4 cases.

"As the school has considerable social distancing measures in place it has been possible to identify and isolate the appropriate contacts.

"No further public health control measures need to be in place at this point.

"Cases are monitored on a daily basis and this will be reviewed if there are any changes.

"The numbers of Covid-19 remain below the England average in Wokingham, however we are not complacent and we continue to work with all schools and businesses to help put the right measures in place to minimise the spread of Covid-19 in Wokingham.

"If anyone has symptoms of Covid-19 they must isolate immediately with their family or household contacts and arrange a test.

"Tests can be difficult to arrange due to national supply issues so please persevere, you can get a test.

"It is these measures that will help reduce the spread of the virus."