Loreto and St Patrick's Colleges wrote to parents on Thursday confirming a parent of a student had tested positive for the virus and asking students and staff to wear masks. It is unknown whether the case relates to two separate parents or one parent with children at each school.

Loreto wrote to their school community to say the family involved was undergoing testing and the student would not be at school for the next two weeks.

"Following Department of Health and Human Services advice, Loreto College will remain open and continue with all stringent protocols put in place for cleaning and hygiene practices," they wrote.

"As an extra precaution all students and staff have been asked to wear masks until further notice. The safety and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority and we continue to follow the DHHS regulations to ensure the wellbeing of our school community."

Because of the late notice of the directive on Thursday and the limited supply of masks to buy, not all students and staff were able to wear masks on Friday. The school is also running classes to teach staff and students how to make masks.

At St Patrick's College operations will also continue as normal pending the results of the student's test.

The parent had not visited St Patrick's College recently and their son, who has been tested and is self-isolating while awaiting the results, did not attend on Thursday.

"We ask that all students please keep maintaining rigid hygiene and social distancing protocols," the school wrote to parents.

"In addition, and in line with other Catholic secondary schools in Ballarat, St Patrick's College will now ask that all staff and students wear a face mask while on College grounds from Monday, July 27. Teachers may remove their mask while teaching."

St Patrick's College will also request all visitors wear a mask and are temperature checked, while at Loreto College will not permit anyone other than essential staff and services on the school grounds until the student's test result is returned.

Despite having no positive cases in their school community to date, students at Damascus will be encouraged and supported to wear a face mask or face covering from Monday.

IN OTHER NEWS

Staff began wearing face masks on Thursday.

"Our current regime of cleaning, social distancing and hygiene practices remain in place, with the additional precaution of facial coverings for everyone's safety," a school spokesperson said.

"As a college we are also making ear savers on our 3D printers, which help our students and staff with the comfort of wearing masks, as they alleviate pressure on ears and glasses fogging up. Textiles students and staff are also making cloth masks for students to wear at school."

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