Parent criticises upper school in Ampthill for not cancelling school trip to Italy

A woman has criticised Redborne Upper School after she saw online that the school's planned educational visit to Italy still went ahead at the weekend - despite the country having more than 200 deaths in the coronavirus outbreak.

Staff and students from the upper school in Ampthill went on a educational visit to Rome and Naples in Italy on Friday, March 6, and returned today (Monday).

The parent, whose children do not go to Redborne Upper School, said: "I was shocked to find out students from Redborne have gone on a GCSE Latin trip to Rome and Naples this weekend.

"Will those pupils have to self isolate when they return?

"If not, then is that not a huge risk to the others at the school and the wider community.

"I was very surprised to hear that the trip was still going ahead, Italy is a high risk country for coronavirus, it is very concerning."

Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

According to the Civil Protection agency, on Sunday, the total number of coronavirus infections in Italy was 7,375.

Redborne Upper School has followed guidance from Public Health England (PHE) and Department for Education.

A spokesperson for Redborne Upper School said: "On 9 March 2020, students and staff returned from a planned educational visit to Rome and Naples in Italy.

"On their departure date, 6 March 2020, advice from the Department of Health and Social Care and PHE was that these areas of Italy were ‘Category 2’ and not ‘Category 1’.

"Category 1 areas are the northern areas which are now in lockdown.

"Guidance from PHE and the DfE was that there was no reason for the trip to be cancelled.

"The group were between 150 and 230 miles south of the lockdown areas.

"As of 1.00pm on 9 March 2020, advice from the DfE and PHE remains the same – travellers returning from a Category 2 area do not need to self-isolate upon return.

"Should they exhibit symptoms as described by PHE, they should then self-isolate for 14 days and contact the 111 coronavirus helpline.

"The group and the parents of the students have been given guidance to follow as prescribed by the PHE."