Coronavirus: Wigan pupils and staff returning from Italy trip to self-isolate for two weeks

St Peter's Catholic High School, in Orrell, took pupils and several members of staff on a trip to Rome on Saturday. Despite multiple cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Italy before the departure, the school said it had allowed the trip to go ahead after careful consideration and guidance from relevant authorities.

But the entire country of Italy was put on lockdown yesterday, as the country's coronavirus death toll jumped from 366 to 463. It is the worst-hit country after China, where the outbreak began. The lockdown includes travel restrictions and a ban on public gatherings.

The extreme measures prompted concern among Wigan parents whose children were on the trip.

In a letter to parents this morning (Tuesday, March 10), which has been seen by Wigan Today, the school confirmed that "All children and staff returning from Rome will self-isolate for a period of two weeks."

Pupils who did not go on the trip, but are friends with those who did, have also been asked to not socialise with them for this time period.

The school said it had been liaising frequently with Public Health England and the Department for Education up until late last evening when the travel advice changed.

The full letter from the headmaster reads:

Dear parents

Thank you for the many supportive messages we have received regarding the Y10 trip to Rome. All children and staff have safely returned. At this stage no one is showing any symptoms, but following a change in guidance issued today from Public Health England and a change in travel guidance from the FCO also issued today, the staff and pupils will be self-isolating for the next two weeks.

Families have been given the NHS advice around this to keep siblings, parents and other family members safe. These are available via the NHS website. As we have done throughout this visit we will continue to follow the guidance of the public health authorities.

A big thank you to the students and staff on this trip who behaved impeccably throughout and remained calm and proportionate as the situation changed.

Mr McGlown