SCHOOLCHILDREN who have returned from a northern Italy ski trip have been told to stay at home as a precaution over the Coronavirus outbreak.

Pupils and staff from RGS Worcester went on a skiing trip over half term and, although the trip did not go to the 'high risk' area the group did travel through Milan airport.

The school’s headteacher, John Pitt, said staff took extra precautions over hygiene for the group throughout the trip.

Pupils on the ski trip have been told to stay at home and to contact NHS 111 for advice.

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Mr Pitt said: “We have advised all parents and pupils that they should remain calm but vigilant for symptoms. If anyone displays symptoms then they should not attend school and should contact NHS 111 to seek further advice and assistance.

“We are providing regular updates to parents and staff, and also ensuring that pupils follow important hygiene requirements for which we are providing additional facilities.

“Our four schools are also being regularly and thoroughly cleaned. All of these are appropriate precautions and we would like to thank parents for their support and Public Health England for their guidance during this challenging period for everyone and for all schools nationally.”

Pupils from The Chase School, in Malvern, also went on a trip to northern Italy but returned to school as they had not visited any quarantined towns.

Headteacher Mike Fieldhouse said, in a statement on the school’s website: “We have had two school trips that have recently returned from skiing in Austria and northern Italy. Having already contacted those families of the students on these two trips, please be reassured that neither trip visited any of the quarantined towns in northern Italy and so automatic self-isolation is not necessary.

“However, any student who was on these trips and is absent with flu-like symptoms (high temperature, fever, cough or difficulty breathing), has been requested to self-isolate for two weeks as per NHS advice.”

The school posted on Twitter: “Please be reassured that we are following all government guidelines regarding Coronavirus.

“We have no confirmed cases of the virus at The Chase.”