Coronavirus fears loom over a school in Perth’s southern suburbs after Baldivis-based Tranby College informed students and parents one of their families had been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case.

A letter from released by southern coeducational independent Uniting Church school revealed the father of the family had in contact with his colleague who was recently diagnosed.

Principal Clayton Massey labelled his response as “entirely precautionary” and said “placing student and community wellbeing as our utmost priority”.

“Both he and one of his children have both now fallen ill with flu-like symptoms. The entire family is now in self-imposed isolation pending test results which are expected early next week,” he said.

“I am now giving direction that anyone with the above symptoms self-isolates and does not attend the College until they have attended a testing clinic and returned a negative test for the virus,”

“WA Health Department guidelines state that if a student or employee does have COVID-19 symptoms and has had possible exposure to the virus, they should not attend school or work until they have medical confirmation that they do not have the virus. Accordingly, this is our direct advice to all Tranby College families, effective immediately.”

Camera Icon The letter sent out by Tranby College Principal Clayton Massey. Photo: Supplied. Credit: Supplied.

On Transby College’s official Facebook page, Dr Massey told the community the issue was school-wide.

“The situation relates to both Junior School and Senior School students,” he said.

“I have returned calls to half the families who have been in touch tonight, and I will continue in the morning. Just as the Health Department is not identifying confirmed cases, we are not providing the year groups of students who are self-isolating.”

On Monday, a ban on overseas travel by WA public, private and Catholic schools was extended to include the United States and Canada.

Previously, the ban - which was announced a week ago - excluded the US, Canada and New Zealand but Education Minister Sue Ellery said the spread of COVID-19 had prompted the change.

New Zealand is now the only country where international travel by WA school groups will be considered.

The first person-to-person transmission of coronavirus in WA was confirmed on Monday, with two further people, a man in his 40s and woman in her 60s, testing positive for the illness on Monday.

The man contracted the illness from his mother who travelled to Perth from Jakarta. The woman had stayed in Perth for six days before travelling on to Melbourne.

The woman tested positive after her husband, who is awaiting his own test results, returned from a trip to Iran.

Tomorrow, WA’s first dedicated coronavirus testing clinics are tipped to open at Fiona Stanley, Sir Charles Gairdner and Royal Perth Hospital.