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Highland Council issues letter to parents over coronavirus fears following secondary pupils' recent trip to Italy; children recently jetted back to Highland capital from Milano-Malpensa airport, on the fringes of the Lombardy region hit by series of cases of COVID19


By Philip Murray

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Culloden Academy.
Culloden Academy.

CORONAVIRUS fears have sparked advice to parents of a Highland school – urging them to keep an eye on their children for symptoms following their trip to northern Italy.

The Mediterranean country has seen a sharp rise in cases of the contagious COVID-19 virus in the Lombardy region in recent days, sparking advice to people returning from holiday.

And pupils at Culloden Academy, who recently visited the Artesina area, have now been sent advice after they jetted out of the Milano-Malpensa airport on the fringes of the Lombardy-Piedmont boundary.

"Since [the pupils'] return, advice regarding the incidence of coronavirus COVID-19 in the Lombardy region of Italy has changed and as such the school has written to parents to provide guidance in liaison with Public Health relating to any health concerns," said a spokesman for Highland Council.

"The advice from the NHS regarding corona virus COVID-19 is that the risk to individuals on the trip is very low. In line with public health guidance anyone who has no symptoms can continue to maintain their normal activities and can attend school.

"However, if they develop respiratory symptoms in the next two weeks they should telephone 111 or your GP, stay indoors and avoid close contact with other people.

The symptoms are:

  • a cough
  • a high temperature
  • shortness of breath

These symptoms do not necessarily mean that someone has the virus, as they are very similar to other illnesses which are much more common, such as cold and flu.

Donna Manson, Highland Council's chief executive added: “The letter home from school is a precautionary measure to provide guidance with public health relating to any health concerns parents or pupils may have. We will continue to liaise with Public Health and to update the guidance if-and-when required.”

Further coronavirus details can be found by clicking here.

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