Children sent home from NI schools following ski trip to Coronavirus hit Italy

By Michael McHugh, PA and Q Radio News

Hundreds of pupils from a number of schools in Northern Ireland have been sent home as a precaution against Coronavirus, after returning from ski trips in Italy. 

Groups of students from Limavady Grammar School, Cambridge House Grammar School in Ballymena and Banbridge Academy returned from different parts of the country at the end last week. 

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 School Principal Elma Lutton told Q Radio, pupils from her school had not visited towns directly by the virus. 

However, they did visit the Lombardy region and did travel through Milan airport.

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."

(Cambridge House Grammar School in Ballymena, Google Maps image) 

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."

Meanwhile, a group of Year 10 pupils from Limavady Grammar School have also been sent home.

"They recently returned from Marilleva, Italy and travelled through Bergamo, Milan Airport on Saturday February 22," a statement from the school said. 

"Following the advice of the Public Health Agency this morning all pupils and staff who travelled from Italy have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days (until 09 March) as a precautionary measure. 

"This situation is fluid and may change with further advice from the Public Health Agency."

(Banbridge Academy is one of the schools where pupils have been sent home - photo Alan Lewis)

Earlier, Banbridge Academy issued public health advice to parents of pupils who returned from the ski trip in Italy. 

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

In a message issued to parents/guardians earlier today, Principal Mr Robin McLoughlin said: “Following the news article on the BBC this morning regarding advice for travellers returning from Northern Italy, the school sought advice from the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency.

“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.

(Health Minister Robin Swann) 

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."

The Public Health Agency has updated its COVID-19 advice in line with the rest of the UK in light of new cases emerging in several countries.

There's information for travellers both with and without symptoms.

The @publichealthni has updated its COVID-19 advice, in line with the rest of the UK in light of new cases emerging in several countries. They're also offering advice for travellers both with and without symptoms: https://t.co/EnSUAzf3TU

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) February 25, 2020