NI pupils off school over coronavirus fears following trips to Italy

A number of pupils in Northern Ireland are beginning the first of an expected 14 days off school over a coronavirus alert.

Groups from Cambridge House Grammar in Ballymena, Limavady Grammar and Banbridge Academy recently returned from trips to Italy where an outbreak has claimed 11 lives so far.

Yesterday, the pupils were sent home as a precaution after advice to "self-isolate".

Pupils at Cambridge House who were on a ski trip last week have been advised to stay off until March 10.

It is also understood that parents of pupils at another two NI schools have also been isued with advice from health authorities.

Dr Muhammad Sartaj, consultant in health protection at the Public Health Agency said:

"With parts of Italy now coming within the guidance, we appreciate that people who may have travelled to the country recently will be concerned and are seeking advice.

"This includes parents of children who may have been on school trips over half-term, so we are liaising with Department of Education, education authority, and schools, to advise on the impact of the newly updated guidelines, and how they apply in each set of circumstances.

"Travellers who have been to 11 specific towns in Italy must self-isolate.

"Anyone who has been in northern Italy, not including Pisa, Florence or Rimini, is asked to stay at home for 14 days if they develop cough, fever, or difficulty breathing, and seek medical advice.''

The guidelines apply equally to all travellers to areas covered, whether travel has been for a holiday, school trip, business, or other reason.

The school group of about 50 from Ballymena was in the Lombardy region in the north of Italy on a ski trip, but did not visit towns affected by the virus and are showing no symptoms.

They travelled through Milan airport, Cambridge House Grammar School principal Elma Lutton said.

She added: "Taking cognisance of advice from the Public Health Agency and following advice from the education authority, the pupils and staff on that ski trip have been sent home for 14 days self-quarantine.

"This is precautionary, none of them were in those nine towns, none are showing any symptoms.

"They were in the Lombardy region but went through Milan airport.''

Pupils from Limavady Grammar School and Banbridge Academy have also been sent home following trips to Italy.

A group of Year 10 pupils from Limavady travelled to Marilleva for a ski trip and flew home via an airport in Milan on Saturday.

A group of 88 pupils and staff from the Academy had been at the resort of San Valentino.

There are strict quarantine restrictions in two northern hotspots close to Milan and Venice.

Thousands of people cannot enter or leave several towns in the Lombardy and Veneto regions for the next two weeks without special permission.

Outside the zone, sporting events have been cancelled and many schools and businesses have suspended normal operations.

Cambridge House Grammar is one of the leading schools in Ballymena, with more than 900 pupils.

One of the parents whose child was not affected, Marty Adams, said: As a parent, and I am sure every parent would echo the same, this is a matter of concern.

I am glad to see that precautions are in place and hopefully no-one will be affected by it, but people were able to return to the school and spend some time in the school.''

The new strain of coronavirus originated last year in Hubei province in China.

It causes a respiratory disease called Covid-19 and produces flu-like symptoms.

China has seen thousands of infections and deaths.

Stormont health minister Robin Swann said: We are in a fast-moving situation.''

He said updated guidelines were being issued to doctors.

"It is unlikely at this stage that any school would have to close if they follow the latest guidelines,'' he added.

Banbridge Academy principal, Robin McLoughlin said: “The Public Health Agency has recommended that any pupil or member of staff who recently travelled to Northern Italy, and is displaying flu-like symptoms, should be isolated as soon as possible and should self-isolate at home.

“In addition, as a further precaution, siblings or other family members showing flu-like symptoms should self-isolate and not attend school.”

Mr McLoughlin said it had been “an extremely busy morning” for the school as they sought advice from the relevant government agencies.

“The information we receive is constantly being updated by the Public Health Agency and I encourage you to check their website for further details,” the principal added.

Meanwhile, here is the advice from the PHA for travellers with symptoms

If you have been to:

Northern Italy (not including, Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar since 19 February 2020; or

China, Thailand, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau in the last 14 days

and have cough, fever, or difficulty breathing,

please self-isolate and contact your GP by phone.

If you are not registered with a GP in Northern Ireland, please contact your local

Emergency Department. Please do not attend the surgery or hospital without phoning in advance. If it is a medical emergency, call 999 and inform the call handler of your recent travel history.

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