Coronavirus: Co Derry school operating as normal again

Limavady Grammar School had  sent a number of pupils and teachers home to self-isolate as a precautionary measure after they returned from the trip.

They have now advised staff and pupils only to self-isolate if they are showing symptoms, including a fever, cough and shortness and breath.

Italy has put 11 towns in Lombardy and Veneto areas into quarantine after more than 200 people tested positive for coronavirus and seven people died.
A group of Year 10 pupils from Limavady Grammar School visited Marilleva, Italy and travelled through Bergamo, Milan Airport on Saturday, February 22. 

The school had initially advised the group to self-isolate following advice from the Public Health Agency.

However, they posted updated advice on the school website last night.

The statement said the school would operate as normal following further advice from the Public Health Agency.

“The school has been following the advice of the Public Health Agency over the past two days. 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 symptoms.”

The statement also confirmed that the pupils were not in any of the towns currently under quarantine.

The new strain of coronavirus originated last year in Hubei province in China.
It causes a respiratory disease called Covid-19 and produces flu-like symptoms.
There have been almost 80,000 confirmed cases of the virus globally, with the majority of these in China, and over 2,600 deaths.