Buncrana students sent home as ‘precaution’ amid Coronavirus concerns

Students from a school in Buncrana passed through Bologna airport.

Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana was previously advised by the Health Service Executive that no action was required in relation to Coronavirus precautions when they returned from their trip on February 19.

However, due to an expansion of affected regions and following updated advice today from the Department of Education and Skills, students who presented with a cough were sent home earlier today. Principal Rosaleen Grant told the Journal this will be expanded to students who have a cough and also feel unwell.

While it was initially thought the students had not visited an affected region, they did pass through Bologna airport in northern Italy.

Ms Grant said today’s move was undertaken as a ‘precaution.’ 34 students and four teachers attended the ski trip from February 13 - 19 and not all have been sent home from school.

A person with the virus arrived in their ski area two days after they left. Today’s precautions surround the airport, not the area in which they were staying.

Ms Grant said the school will continue to liaise with the HSE and update parents and students.

The department said that anyone who has been to affected regions in the last 14 days and has a cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or fever should self-isolate and phone their GP immediately.

Anyone who has travelled from the affected regions and has no symptoms should visit http://www.hse.ie/ for advice.

It added how ‘the most important action we can take to protect ourselves from Covid-19 is regular hand-washing and good respiratory hygiene.’

Students from Moville Community College were also on a ski trip in Italy recently. On the school facebook page, an update was given that stated the school tour stayed in Dimaro in the region of Trentino.

They said: “This region does not have restrictions in place currently. Neighbouring regions to the south have done so. The towns currently with travel restrictions are located approximately 275Km from where we stayed and skied.”