Essex County Council confirmed that the identified case of the latest variant in Brentwood has been linked to the Larchwood Primary School based in Pilgrims Hatch

A confirmed case of the Omicron Covid variant has been linked to a primary school in Essex.

Essex County Council confirmed today that the identified case of the latest variant in Brentwood has been linked to the Larchwood Primary School based in Pilgrims Hatch.

Necessary precautions have been taken to prevent further spread, the council said.

The case is said to be “well” and isolating with family.

Though they have some symptoms, they do not require hospitalisation.

Essex County Council said in a series of tweets: “Following further contact tracing of the known Omicron Covid-19 case in Brentwood, it has been confirmed that there is a link to Larchwood Primary School based in Pilgrims Hatch.

“UK Health and Security Agency, Department of Health and Social Care, Larchwood Primary School and colleagues from Essex County Council and Brentwood Council have worked together to take necessary precautionary action to prevent the spread.

“This includes making specialist testing available for all pupils and school staff and confirming arrangements for remote learning for one class.

“We appreciate that this is an unsettling time for parents, pupils and the school community but we take the time to remind everyone that this is a precautionary measure.”

A person infected with the Omicron variant in Essex is “well” and isolating with their family, the region’s top public health official has said.

Essex director of public health Dr Michael Gogarty told BBC Breakfast: “Most importantly with the confirmed case is that they are well, they are isolating with their family.

“When I say that they are well, I mean they are not seriously ill.

“They have some symptoms but they do not require hospitalisation.”

Students at the school are being tested for the new Omicron variant, the region’s top public health official said.

Dr Gogarty said: “What we’re doing is we’re throwing the net very wide in terms of requesting people who attended these places at the particular times to get tested as soon as possible.

“Within the school we are actually excluding one school group as close contacts, but with the rest of the school group we would wish them to get tested and we are arranging for that testing to happen.

“Some sought it yesterday, and the rest will happen today.”

A number of sites in Essex visited by a person infected with the Omicron variant are being targeted for testing, Mr Gogarty added.

“There are a number of sites we are looking at where these people had contact (with the infected person).

“One you would be aware of is the KFC in Brentwood.

“There’s also a face setting and a school setting.”