Coronavirus: Gosport school faces calls to shut for 'deep clean' as pupil's relatives are tested for virus

A youngster was taken home early from Bay House School on Wednesday as family members who returned from a trip abroad undergo tests.

They have not yet returned any results and Public Health England told the school risk to staff and students is ‘extremely low'.

But The News understands worried parents have kept at least six Bay House pupils at home today.

Mum-of-three Gemma Glenton said her son Riley, who is in Year 10, stayed home and will not attend tomorrow.

The 37-year-old said: ‘I have a child who has a brain tumour and suffers from epilepsy so if he gets it it’s a serious matter for us.

‘Obviously the school said they are keeping an eye out, but if there was any risk at all you would think they would just close the school.’

Gomer Junior School has also confirmed the family one of its pupils is in self-isolation because of relatives who travelled abroad.

Both schools are part of the Gosport and Fareham Multi-Academy Trust but are located half a mile apart.

Another mum, who asked to remain anonymous, today refused to send in her Year 8 son until after the half-term break.

He had already been absent for two days with a high temperature, an ear infection and a cough.

‘It’s two further days of sickness but as they have issued this warning I’m taking no chances,’ the 49-year-old said.

‘In two days it is half term. It seems irresponsible to me that they wouldn’t close the school for a deep clean.

‘I get that education is important, but so is health.’

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Another mum, 34, said neither her daughter in Year 7 or niece in Year 9 attended.

Meanwhile mum-of-two Kerry Jones, 42, backed the school’s decision to stay open today, branding any potential closure ‘too hasty’.

Her son, who is in Year 8, and daughter, in Year 11, both attended today.

Relatives of the Bay House pupil in self-isolation did not travel to China.

The Department of Health said anybody who has travelled to China, Thailand, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau and has had shortness of breath in the past 14 days should stay indoors and call 111.

A ninth UK case of coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, was confirmed yesterday at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

The News has approached Gomer Junior School and Bay House School for a response.