Schools advice after families go in isolation over virus fears

Precautions for coronavirus

STAFF at a primary school have sent a message to parents about coronavirus after it was confirmed that two families connected to a school in the same village are in self isolation.

Judith Boston, headteacher at St Bartholomew’s Primary School in Quorn, sent a letter to parents after it was revealed that families connected to nearby Rawlins Academy had been asked to stay away due to the virus.

In her letter, Ms Boston sought to reassure parents.

Clare Darby, principal at the Rawlins Academy, has also sent a letter to parents, saying: “Currently, we have two families associated with the school who are following the guidance and self-quarantining due to family holidays at halfterm.”

Ms Boston wrote: “We are aware that Rawlins has sent a timely and useful letter to their parents regarding the coronavirus outbreak.

“We can reassure you that we too are following the advice and guidance from Public Health England and the Department of Education.

“There are notices already displayed prominently around the school and I have asked the cleaning staff to redouble their efforts to keep all areas clean and sanitised.

“Children at Key Stage 2 assembly were reminded to wash their hands properly and children in Key Stage 1 have been reminded by their class teacher.

“Please help us by talking to your children about basic hygiene procedures without alarming them, especially with the number of colds around at the moment.

“This is a rapidly developing situation, so we are monitoring the Foreign office guidance for families on taking trips abroad at Easter to Italy or other infected countries such as Austria and Croatia.

“If you are embarking on such a trip please see the guidance about travel and quarantine zones.

“We currently have no families associated with any of the infected areas following the half-term holidays.

“If you have further concerns or questions about this matter please telephone the office.”

Pupils and staff from the fee-paying Ratcliffe College at Ratcliffe on the Wreake have been told to stay away from school and in self isolation after the annual ski trip to northern Italy.

Jonathan Reddin, headmaster at Ratcliffe College said: “The health and safety of our students is of paramount importance to us.

“As a precautionary measure, and following direct advice from the relevant authorities, the college has therefore taken the decision to send home those students and staff who recently travelled to northern Italy on our annual ski trip.

“We await further guidance from the authorities.”

Travellers returning to the UK from northern Italy have been told they may need to self-isolate as part of measures to stop the spread of the Covid-19 disease caused by coronavirus.

Symptoms of Covid-19 include a cough, fever and shortness of breath.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said official advice has been changed to say people who have been to anywhere in Italy north of Pisa should self-isolate if they develop flu-like symptoms on their return to the UK.

Britons who have been in lockeddown regions of Italy - including Lombardy and Veneto - should self-isolate at home for 14 days even if they have no symptoms.

England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said schools could be shut and public transport reduced if coronavirus became a global pandemic.

Prof Whitty said families could also be asked to self-isolate if one of them had symptoms of the virus.