Coronavirus: Parent of Mildenhall College Academy student taking planned ski trip to Italy calls on Government to impose travel ban

A parent whose child is going on a school ski trip to Northern Italy has called on the Government to impose travel restrictions to the area due to coronavirus.

Mildenhall College Academy is planning a ski trip to Passo Tonale next month, which is between Lombardy and Trentino.

Ten small towns in Lombardy have been isolated by the Italian authorities due to an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus.

The parent, whose child is one of about 30 due to go on the ski trip, said the Italian and American authorities have placed travel restrictions on the area and is calling on the British Government to do the same to prevent the trip.

She said: "I don't blame the school. They're going by the Government guidelines but the Italian Government is saying 'no you can't go there' and the American Government is saying 'no you can't go there'.

"I don't think our Government is doing enough.

"It takes one person (to catch the virus) and they could all then have it on the bus going back.

"I'm not sure what to do. If I don't send them we lose over £1,000 because our Government has not said don't travel to these areas."

A spokesperson for the academy said: “We have a ski trip planned for April to a region which is neither in lockdown nor quarantine but we take our duty of care to students, staff and our wider academy community extremely seriously and so are closely monitoring the international situation.

“We will continue to follow Government guidelines, as well as co-ordinating with our expert risk assessment team, before confirming whether the trip will go ahead as planned next month.

“We will continue to update parents and students with any developments and take any necessary precautions required before or after the trip.”

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against all but essential travel to 10 small towns in Lombardy - Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano - and one in Veneto (Vo’ Euganeo), which have been isolated by the Italian authorities due to the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus.

Travel advice is being regularly updated.