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Schoolchildren and teachers from Northern Ireland have been sent home after visiting coronavirus-struck Italy last week.

It is understood Banbridge Academy in Co Down, Limavady Grammar School in Co Derry and Cambridge House Grammar in Co Antrim have taken the measures as a matter of precaution following advice from the Public Health Agency.

The Banbridge Academy students travelled to the country earlier this month for a ski-trip, staying in the San Valentino area of Trentino.

The students arrived there on February 15 before arriving back in Northern Ireland on February 22.

Meanwhile, Limavady Grammar School told Belfast Live that their students had attended a ski-trip in the Marilleva area of Trentino before arriving back last Saturday.

Pupils in Banbridge Academy had been on a ski trip in northern Italy over the half term break.

This morning they were given advice by the Public Health Agency.

A letter issued by the school read: "Dear Parent/Guardian, Following a news article, resulting from the UK Health Secretary, on the BBC this morning regarding advice for travellers returning froom Northern Italy, the school sought advice from the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency.

"The Public Health Agency has recommended that any pupil or member of staff who recently travelled to northern Italy and is displaying flu-like symptoms, should be isolated as soon as possible and should self-isolate at home until Monday 9 March.

"In addition, as a further precaution, siblings or other family members showing symptoms should self-isolate and not attend school.

"During this time if they display any flu-like symptoms, cough etc you should contact your GP but DO NOT ATTEND the surgery.

"After this time if they show no symptoms they can return to school.

"Further information can be obtained from the PHA website or from the 24/ helpline on 0300 200 7885.

"Obviously the information we receive is constantly being updated by the Public Health Agency and I encourage you to check their website for further details. R S McLoughlin, Principal."

In a statement to Belfast Live, Limavady Grammar School said: "A group of year 10 pupils recently returned from Marilleva, Italy on February 22nd.

"Following the advice of the Public Health Agency this morning, all pupils and staff have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days until March 9th."

Cambridge House Grammar said around 50 pupils and staff had been sent home as a precaution against coronavirus after returning from an Italian ski holiday.

Cambridge House Grammar school principal Elma Lutton said: “Taking cognisance of advice from the Public Health Agency and following advice from the Education Authority, the pupils and staff on that ski trip have been sent home for 14 days’ self-quarantine.

“This is precautionary, none of them were in those nine towns, none are showing any symptoms.

“They were in the Lombardy region but went through Milan airport.”

The precautions were put in place after UK ministers told all those returning from the area to self-isolate following an outbreak of the virus, which has now claimed more than 2,700 lives worldwide.

It is understood that the schools were not in regions affected by coronavirus.

A concerned father, whose child is at Banbridge Academy, told Belfast Live that his daughter, who was in Italy last week, was one of the pupils sent home.

He said: "I was contacted by my daughter who told me that the principal gathered the students in the assembly hall on Tuesday.

"She told me that they had to be out of the school by 11:30am this morning and that they had to be collected by parents.

"It is very concerning as a parent because my daughter has been away. We have been told that we must now self-isolate.

"As far as I am aware the principal had been in contact with the Public Health Agency and they had given guidance to the schools.

"You hear about this sort of stuff on the news but you don't expect it to be on your doorstep.

"It's all very unsettling."