Coronavirus: Schools back to normal after updated PHA advice

Three Northern Ireland schools – Limavady Grammar, Cambridge House Grammar in Ballymena, and Banbridge Academy – sent home pupils who had recently been on school trips to Italy.

That happened on Tuesday but updated advice from health authorities means the pupils are no longer being isolated.

The Public Health Agency confirmed this afternoon that there have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Northern Ireland, following a total of 52 concluded tests.

An isolation unit has been established at a Belfast hospital ahead of an expected first case of Covid-19 after health chiefs said they now believe an infection is near “inevitable”.

Preparations have been stepped up at the country’s hospitals and GP surgeries.

The Royal Victoria Hospital, Northern Ireland’s largest, has set aside an isolation ward to treat the first cases.

Chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride, said a vaccine could be months away.

One of the schools who sent pupils home on Tuesday, Cambridge House Grammar, confirmed in a letter to parents that the school will now “operate as normal” following updated guidance.

Elma Lutton said: “The school has been following guidance from the Education Authority, based on the advice of the Public Health Agency (PHA). This advice has changed since our earlier communication. The latest guidance issued indicates that pupils and staff should only self-isolate if they are showing the symptoms outlined below.”

She continued: “School will operate as normal from tomorrow (Thursday). However, if your child is showing any symptoms of illness, please do not send them and seek medical advice by telephone.”

She also confirmed that none of the school’s pupils had been in any of the ‘Category One’ towns under lockdown in northern Italy.

Limavady Grammar School and Banbridge Academy have also updated parents on the new guidance.

A group of Year 10 pupils from Limavady Grammar had travelled to Marilleva in Italy for a skiing trip before flying home from Milan at the weekend.

Similarly, Banbridge Academy issued an update to parents following new guidance from the Public Health Agency, after pupils who were on a recent ski trip in San Valentin were sent home.