A PRIMARY school teacher has gone into isolation over fears they have caught the coronavirus.

The teacher was in close contact with someone who was advised to self-isolate by Public Health England.

Concerned parents at Bevendean Primary School told The Argus their children had been given the option to stay home.

A mother with a six-year old son at the school said: “I’m still shaking. I was going to take my child to school, but then I got the email at 7.10 this morning. I’m just glad I checked.

“The pupils have been given the choice whether to go in or not ­– it’s up to parents, and if they take the time off it goes down as an authorised absence.

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“I’m not sending my child to school. I’m not sending him for the rest of the week.

“I’m scared of this virus. It’s left the whole country scared.

“My son’s scared too. He doesn’t want to go to school.

“I think the school has done the right thing. If they didn’t tell us, they’d be putting everybody at risk.”

A father who is not taking his daughter to school said: "God knows how many other cases there are. We don’t know.

“It’s a ticking time bomb.

“I’m really worried. We’ve had so many cases. How many people who have been told to self-isolate have been out and about, going to the shop or the pub?

“My daughter’s in reception. I don’t think she understands."

The news comes after four people were diagnosed with coronavirus in Brighton yesterday.

In a statement, the school said: “We have just been made aware that a member of our staff has been in close contact with someone who has been advised by Public Health England to self-isolate as they have been in direct contact with the Coronavirus.

“We are currently in communication with the local authority and Public Health England for further advice and information however we feel that it is our duty to make you aware of what is happening.

"The school will remain open until further notice however if you wish to keep your child off of school at this time, then we will authorise this absence.

“Please contact the school if you are keeping your child off.

“Whilst nothing has been confirmed, the health and safety of our school community is of paramount importance to us and we have therefore taken this unprecedented step until we have more information.

“Please keep an eye on the website for further information and updates as we have them.

“Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”