Schools close in Cheshire amid Coronavirus fears

Schools in Cheshire have closed their doors after children returned from school trips to Italy with flu like symptoms.

Parts of Italy are on lockdown  amid fears that the Coronavirus had spread to the country.

Pupils at the independent Cransley High School in Northwich are said to be showing flu-like symptoms after returning from the trip in Bormio in Northern Italy.

And Brine Leas School in Nantwich closed its sixth form after teachers and pupils self-quarantined over coronavirus fears after returning from a ski trip to Northern Italy.

Sandbach High School also sent staff and pupils home after they returned from a school ski trip in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy.

It is understood 12 teachers and about 100 students at the Nantwich school who were on the ski trip last week have been told to stay at home for 14 days.

Towns in the Lombardy and Veneto region of Italy have been in lockdown as a result of the outbreak.

Cransley head teacher Richard Pollock said he received a call from the NHS on Monday night advising all students and staff on the trip to self-isolate.

Mr Pollock said: “This means non-attendance tomorrow and for the remainder of the week.

“All pupils who are unwell should inform NHS 111 and insist on being tested for the Coronavirus.”

Mr Pollock went on to advise any pupils who had been on the trip to Italy not to use public transport or taxis.

He added: “During this time, the school will be able to conduct a deep clean, and monitor the results of tests amongst those pupils who are currently showing flu-like symptoms.

“I understand that there will be a variety of reactions to this decision amongst parents, and hope that all families will understand the developing situation and the changing and inconsistent advice given to the school.”

Dr Matt Tyrer, acting director of public health at Cheshire East Council, said: “We have had a number of queries in relation to school trips to Italy.

“We have further liaised today with Public Health England to get the latest advice.

“There are two specific areas in the north of Italy that have put in control measures – one area of 10 villages in lowland Lombardy and one village in the Veneto region.

“If individuals have been to these specific towns, the advice is to self-isolate and contact NHS 111.

“In relation to the rest of Italy, individuals who have flu-like symptoms should stay indoors, avoid contact with others and contact NHS 111 for advice. Individuals without these symptoms do not need to contact NHS 111 or self-isolate.

“This means pupils and teachers can go back into school as normal if they do not have any symptoms.”

Meanwhile, a hotel in Tenerife in the Canary Islands has been locked down after a visiting Italian doctor tested positive for the virus.

Guests at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace Hotel were initially told to stay in their rooms as medical tests were carried out.

Global cases of the virus have passed 80,000 with the vast majority in China.

Around 50,000 people have been told not to leave their homes without special permission.

Fears around the virus have triggered falls in markets across the globe and airlines in the Far East have cancelled flights.