Ten schools in coronavirus lockdown after pupils return from Italy with some suffering ‘flu-like symptoms’

TEN schools across the UK are now in coronavirus lockdown after pupils returned from Italy - some with 'flu-like symptoms'.

Schools in Cheshire, Cornwall, Somerset, Sidcup, Yorkshire, Doncaster, Middlesborough and Co Antrim have either closed or sent pupils home after they returned from trips in Northern Italy, where hundreds of residents have contracted the deadly infection.

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It comes after a hotel in Tenerife was put in lockdown when an Italian guest tested positive for coronavirus.

Cransley School in Northwich, Brine Leas Academy Sixth Form in Nantwich and Sandbach High School in Cheshire have all closed amid fears of the deadly virus after pupils returned from Italy.

Hall Cross Academy in Doncaster, which is Louis Tomlinson's old school, has also sent staff and students who were on a half term ski trip in Northern Italy home - advising them to self-isolate for 14 days.

Pupils who returned to Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough from a ski trip in Northern Italy have been sent home and told to self-isolate.

Cambridge House Grammar School in Northern Ireland sent around 50 pupils and staff home as a precaution after returning from an Italian ski holiday in the Lombardy region - they are not displaying any symptoms.

'PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE'

In Sidcup, Cleeve Park School has advised staff and pupils to stay at home after returning from another ski trip in northern Italy - They have not specified how many people they sent home.

Mrs Tyler Maher, Executive Head Teacher at Cleeve Park school, said: "I can confirm that a group of students and staff have recently returned from a skiing trip in Northern Italy.

"A small number in the group have reported feeling unwell and as a precaution, they have been isolated at home from the other students and staff.

Crispin School in Street, Somerset told pupils who had recently returned from Italy not to come into school.

They have called this a precautionary measure at this stage.

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In Cornwall, Newquay Tretherras school said in a letter to parents it had told 20 students and three members of staff to stay at home after returning from a ski trip in Pampeago in the north of Italy.

Salendine Nook High School in Yorkshire has also sent pupils home after they returned from a ski trip in northern Italy.

The school said in a statement: "Our ski trip returned from northern Italy (Milan airport) on Saturday 22 February. This is an area which is affected by the virus.

"As a result of this, we have sent home 19 children and 4 staff, as a precautionary measure in line with Public Health England’s advice.

"These children and staff will be returning to school on Monday 9th March 2020."

FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS

Brits who have travelled to Italy have today been told to "self-isolate" for 14 days to stop the spread of the bug that has claimed seven lives in Italy so far.

It is understood 29 Cransley school pupils and five staff members had travelled to Italy for the ski trip - all since advised to stay at home.

Cransley school - one of the stop independent schools in the UK that charges students almost £12,000 a year- has now been closed to all pupils to undergo a deep-clean.

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Headmaster Richard Pollock today wrote to parents, saying: "I understand that there will be a variety of reactions to this decision amongst parents, and I hope that all families will understand the developing situation and the changing and inconsistent advice given to the school.

"There are a number of pupils and staff who have vulnerable family members and it is the School's duty of care to put in place the most secure of measures to minimise any possible infection, despite public policy.

"The staff, pupils and families of Cransley are our highest concern, and whilst we understand the impact this may have on the education of the pupils and disruption to working practice of parents, we believe this decision is justified."

All staff and pupils who went on the trip have been told to self-isolate themselves.

A group of students from Penair School in Truro, Cornwall had been sent home after returning from a ski trip to Ponte di Legno in northern Italy.

But headteacher James Davidson today confirmed the children and staff could return to school.

He said Public Health England advised them that "if students or staff develop any symptoms relating to the coronavirus they should isolate immediately and call 111".

Meanwhile two GP surgeries were closed and re-opened today amid coronavirus fears - one in Braintree, Essex and another in Saltash, Cornwall.

Suspected patients at Mount Chambers Surgery in Braintree and Saltash Health Centre are believed to have tested negative for the virus and the surgeries re-opened soon after.

HOMECOMING SCREEN

More than 2,700 people have died globally from coronavirus, while there are more than 80,000 cases.

Throughout northern Italy, 50,000 people have now been placed in total lockdown in 11 towns.

But Italy has not been added to the Number 10’s list of “high-risk” countries prompting criticism from medics concerned tourists potentially carrying the virus are not being quarantined.

However, Britain’s chief medical officer is expected to add a number of northern regions of Italy to that list.

Health officials are believed to be considering whether to go further and ask everyone returning from the regions to stay at home for two weeks.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock today said if anyone has travelled to any quarantined area in Italy, they should self isolate no matter what.

He told BBC News: "Those have been to Northern Italy, anybody that has been to Italy north of Pisa should, if they have flu like symptoms, should self isolate - which means go home and try to stay out of contact with other people.

"If people have been to affected areas the Italian government have quarantined, then they should self isolate whether or not they have symptoms."

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