Parents from the first school in Greater Manchester to close amid the coronavirus outbreak have been confirmed as two of the region's known cases.

Garrett Hall Primary School in Tyldesley, Wigan, was shut for 'a specialist deep clean' on Thursday and Friday.

The decision was taken as a result of a family from the school being 'in direct contact with two people who are confirmed cases of coronavirus'.

In an update sent to parents on Friday (March 6), head teacher Tracy Beaty said two parents were 'confirmed cases of COVID-19 virus'.

Their children are 'showing no signs of any symptoms related to the virus', she added, and are still in the 14-day self-isolation period.

It has not been confirmed whether the two parents are from the same family.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

The letter adds that the school is set to reopen on Monday and that bosses have been advised the authorities that it does not need to take any further action.

Ms Beaty's message reads: "I can now confirm that both parents are confirmed cases of COVID-19 virus.

"Both of their children are showing no signs of any symptoms related to the virus and are continuing to self-isolate for 14 days.

"I have been in contact with Public Health England, Public Health Wigan and the DFE.

"The advice given is that we do not need to take any further action other than that taken already.

"If the current situation changes and there are further confirmed cases within our school community, I will seek additional advice."

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A year 4 residential trip will go ahead as planned on Monday, Ms Beaty said.

Earlier on Friday, a third coronavirus case was confirmed in Wigan.

In a statement, Wigan Council said: "A third case of COVID 19 has been confirmed in Wigan Borough. We advise residents to continue with good personal hygiene and to contact NHS 111 if they present with symptoms."

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

The council's director of public health, Prof Kate Adern, said: "We understand the announcement of confirmed cases in Wigan Borough may cause concern but we want to reassure residents that the risk to the public remains low and that we are in constant conversations with Public Health England to manage the current situation.

"Due to patient confidentiality, the exact locations of the cases cannot be published, but we continue to stress the importance of regular hand washing."

Further cases in Trafford and and Stockport were also confirmed on Friday afternoon, taking the total in Greater Manchester two 14.

The borough-by-borough breakdown of confirmed cases, as of Friday evening, was:

Bury - three

Bolton - one

Stockport - two

Oldham - one

Trafford - four

Wigan three

The Department of Health said the number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus across the UK has increased by 47 to 163.

More than 20,000 people have been tested for the virus.