Dumbarton and Vale schools will remain open for now, but plans are being put in place for secondary schools to prepare teaching online and to give staff iPads to teach their lessons on.

West Dunbartonshire Council transport will continue as normal for the foreseeable future, and pupils will still be encouraged to attend school and sit exams as the academic year goes on.

It had been rumoured online that attendance in secondary schools in the area had fallen significantly at the end of last week but this was branded “false” by the council.

A school source told the Reporter: “The schools need to do something. There are teachers volunteering their time and resources through an online platform, and I think that would be the safest option for our pupils too.”

Last week the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed she will not be closing schools, colleges or universities in Scotland amid the coronavirus outbreak as the SNP leader claims it would risk further infection.

However, since that announcement the University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow University and Glasgow Caledonian University have taken to social media to confirm their closures in order to keep their students and staff safe.

All non-essential visits to care homes will be limited until further notice, according to West Dunbartonshire Council.

A statement on Facebook said: “The health and safety of our residents is paramount and we are maintaining our stringent health and safety practices and have protocols in place to reduce the impact in our care homes.

“In order to maintain contact between friends and family members, we are encouraging increased interaction via social media, letters and video calls. In addition, we’re introducing a new online facility to provide regular updates to families on their relatives.”