Three school children sent home in a coronavirus scare have been found to be clear of the illness.

The youngsters, who had been in a severely affected part of Europe and appeared to have mild flu-like symptoms, had been told to go home by teachers in Sandwich yesterday.

But now they have been classed as not having the virus because they did not have the key symptoms highlighted by Public Health England.

They returned to lessons at Sir Roger Manwood's School this morning.

Headmaster Lee Hunter told parents in a letter today: "As the three students are not exhibiting any of the three symptoms that PHE are now quoting as the ones required for self isolation, they have today been allowed to come back into school.

"I hope that you would agree that the school responded quickly to what is an unprecedented situation.

"We are now all much clearer on the symptoms that need to be displayed before anyone is asked to self isolate."

The three pupils had all been in a non-school trip to northern Italy during last week's half-term holiday.

That region is now a European hotspot for the illness although the trio had not been in any of its 11 lockdown zones.

But they had said, when they returned, they were beginning to feel what seemed to be mild flu-like symptoms.

As a result they were sent home following advice from PHE.

PHE, in further consultation with the school, stressed three key symptoms that would mean someone having to self-isolate for 14 days.

These are shortness of breath, a persistent cough or a temperature above 38C.

The three youngsters did not have any of these.

But Mr Hunter stressed to parents the need for vigilance and proper precautions to guard against this now global and potentially fatal virus.

He said, following PHE recommendations, every child now must carry a hand sanitiser, with at least 60% effective alcohol, and disposable tissues.

They need to always trap a cough or sneeze, inside and outside school, and immediately wash their hands.

Mr Hunter told parents if their children showed any of the key symptoms they should keep them at home, dial the NHS 111 number, and keep the school briefed.

He said: "Whilst we appreciate that it is most likely to be a normal cold or flu, in the current climate we believe it better to err on the side of caution."

This latest strain of the bug, novel coronavirus (COVID-19), was first identified last December 1 in the city of Wehun in Hubei Province, China.

So far there have been 82,589 confirmed cases around the world and 2,811 deaths.

Today the Chief Medical Officer for England announced two new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number in the UK to 15.

The bug was passed to the latest two victims in Italy and Tenerife.

They are now being kept in NHS infection centres in Liverpool and London.

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