Coronavirus: Doncaster pupils ordered into lockdown after Italy trip told to return to school

Pupils ordered into a 14-day lockdown over coronavirus fears following a school trip to Italy have been told to return to school.
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Hall Cross Academy alerted parents and told staff and students who had been on the half-term trip to the Italian ski resort of Bormio to self isolate and stay away from school for 14 days.

But the school has now issued fresh advice and told students to come back.

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In a statement, prinicipal Simon Swain said: “I have invited students and staff who attended the ski trip to Italy to return to school.

Pupils at Hall Cross have been told to return to school.Pupils at Hall Cross have been told to return to school.
Pupils at Hall Cross have been told to return to school.

“This is further to the latest advice I have received from NHS England and Local Authority health advisors.

“I appreciate that we have invited students and staff to return in advance of the initial 14 day period which I outlined in previous correspondence. I hope parents and students will appreciate that this has been a very fluid situation.

“I have been in very regular contact with NHS England since our students returned from Italy. Following advice that it was safe for our students to be in school on Monday, we then received advice on Tuesday morning that the students were to be sent home to self-isolate.

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“I subsequently continued to contact both NHS England and Local Authority health advisors.

“Yesterday afternoon I received a letter from the LA advising me that students returning from the ski trip should return as normal. Last night, I also spoke with a consultant at Public Health England, Dr Will Morton, who confirmed that students and staff can now return to school.

“However, anyone who attended the trip who is displaying flu-like symptoms should contact 111 for advice.”

Three other Doncaster schools – New College at Auckley, McAuley Catholic High School and Don Valley Academy – have also issued coronavirus advice following half-term trips to Italy but none of them were to the Lombary and Veneto regions – the worst affected parts of Italy.

Globally, more than 80,000 people in more than 40 countries have been infected.