Coronavirus: 26 UK schools in lockdown after half-term ski trips to Italy

In less than 24-hours 26 schools across the UK are now closed amid coronavirus fears as hundreds of pupils attended ski trips to Northern Italy which is heavily infected with the virus.

It is feared that the pupils may have come into contacted with infected people whilst skiing in Norther Italy which has more than 50,000 people quarantined.

Italy has now become Europe’s worst-affected country, with more than 300 cases and 12 deaths.

Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer has warned that every school in the UK could close and public transport reduced if the World Health Organization officially says it is a global pandemic.

Cransley School in Northwich, Cheshire, and Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough will be closed for the rest of the week.

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Tyler Maher, executive head Teacher at Cleeve Park school said, “I can confirm that a group of students and staff have recently returned from a skiing trip in Northern Italy.

“A small number in the group have reported feeling unwell and as a precaution, they have been isolated at home from the other students and staff.

St Christopher’s C of E High School in Accrington told parents it would be shut on Wednesday, while Lutton St Nicholas and Gedney Church End primary schools in Lincolnshire also said they had closed “because of a potential connection to the Coronavirus by an individual within the school.”

Students from Penair School in Truro, Cornwall, Salendine Nook High School in Huddersfield, Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School in West Derby and Newquay Tretherras in Newquay have also been advised to stay home after returning from ski trips.

The Billericay School in Essex has reportedly sent pupils home after a half-term skiing trip in Italy.

The Foreign Office later updated its travel advice, with a spokesman saying, “We advise against all but essential travel to 10 small towns in Lombardy and one in Veneto, which are currently in isolation due to an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus.

“Any British nationals already in these towns should follow the advice of the local authorities.”

As of Tuesday, a total of 6,795 people have been tested for coronavirus in the UK and 13 confirmed cases.

A leaked document from the National Security Communications Team, seen by the Sun newspaper, suggests 80% of people could be contaminated with coronavirus, meaning more than 50m cases in the UK and 500,000 deaths, “in worst case scenario.”