Three Northern Ireland schools send students home as precautionary measure following Italy trips

The decision came following advice from the Public Health Agency.

Children and teachers from a number of Northern Irish schools who recently returned from school ski trips in Italy have been sent home from school and asked to self-isolate as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus. It's understood Banbridge Academy in Down, Limavady Grammar School in Derry and Cambridge House Grammar in Antrim have taken the precautionary steps following advice from the Public Health Agency. All three schools had students and teachers who returned from ski trips in Italy in recent days. “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 until Monday 9 March," Principal of Banbridge Academy, Robin McLoughlin, said in a letter to parents. “After this time if they show no symptoms they can return to school," the letter added. The Public Health Agency said it is aware of a number of schools who have recently travelled to northern Italy and are working with them and the Education Authority to provide appropriate advice. Earlier on Tuesday, it was announced that a hotel in Tenerife was in lockdown with guests told to stay in their rooms after the hotel was quarantined due to a confirmed case of the coronavirus. On Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it was providing consular assistance to Irish citizens in the area. Cillian De Gascun, The Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, recently spoke to JOE about the virus, explaining exactly how it spreads, what we know about it so far, and the potential threat to Ireland. You can check out our conversation with Cillian here.