Coronavirus: Five students at Portsmouth school in self-isolation after returning from ski trip in Italy

Springfield School in Central Road, Drayton organised a trip to Champoluc in the north of the country over the half-term break.

Italy has been hit by an outbreak of coronavirus which has seen a number of towns quarantined and 400 cases of the disease confirmed so far.

Public Health England (PHE) has urged anyone who has visited the country and experienced any respiratory symptoms to self-isolate at home for two weeks.

Springfield School said that while they did not pass through any of the quarantined areas on the trip, five students have followed PHE’s advice and have self-isolated.

Head teacher Sara Spivey explained said: ‘The school ran a skiing trip to Champoluc over half-term, which returned on February 19.

‘The school took advice from Public Health England (South East) which confirmed that the skiing trip did not pass through the specific lockdown areas of Italy.

‘Consequently, Public Health England has advised that any of the trip participants who experience respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, fever) should self-isolate and call NHS 111 for advice.

‘Other trip participants (who have no respiratory symptoms) have been advised that they are able to attend school as normal. It is our understanding that, following advice, five pupils are self-isolating at home.

‘Understandably, a number of parents have queries about this and are seeking advice. The school has been updating families with the relevant information published by the government and will continue to take and act upon advice, as appropriate, from Public Health England.’

The foreign office is advising against all but essential travel to 10 towns in Lombardy and one in Veneto.

In the 24 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday, Italy confirmed 78 more cases of coronavirus.

Hard-hit Lombardy, where 10 towns are on army-guarded lockdowns, still had the most cases with 288 - four of them children. But Veneto saw a spike of 28 cases overnight, bringing its total to 71.