Bury St Edmunds school following official coronavirus advice after Italy ski trip

A Bury St Edmunds school says it is following coronavirus guidelines after 40 pupils returned home from a half-term ski trip to Italy.

Vicky Neale, headteacher at County Upper School, in Beetons Way, said the school sought bespoke medical advice yesterday and is following Department of Education guidelines issued this morning.

The school remains open and it is advising any students with symptoms to stay at home.

Mrs Neale said: "The advice is clear and we are following the advice.

"The children were not in any of the lockdown areas. If they have symptoms, they don't come in. Until or unless they have symptoms they school be in school.

"No one in the party has been sent home with symptoms.

"The children were at no time in any area in the lockdown and everywhere they were is still open.

"I am reassuring parents and that's why I sent out another parent mail this morning.

Italy has more than 300 cases of the virus, which are concentrated in the region of Lombardy.

Eleven towns in the area are in lockdown and the Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel to the towns.

Updated health advice means anyone returning from these Italian towns is asked to call NHS 111, stay indoors and avoid contact with others, even if they do not have symptoms.