A message from the school says: 'This is a precautionary measure.'
A message from the school says: ‘This is a precautionary measure.’ (Picture: Rex/Google Maps)

Dulwich Prep School in London has closed while pupils await tests results to see if they have coronavirus.

Two pupils fell ill after going on foreign holidays during half term.

A message from the school says: ‘This is a precautionary measure.

‘Unrelated pupils from different Sections of school have returned after half term having been on holiday in one of the Category 2 areas. They were healthy when they returned but have since become unwell.

Dulwich Prep School, London Immediate School Closure Dear Parents, I am writing to inform you that in order to best protect our community, and with support from our Governing Body, we have made the decision to close Dulwich Prep London for at least the remainder of this week. This is a precautionary measure. Unrelated pupils from different Sections of school have returned after half term having been on holiday in one of the Category 2 areas. They were healthy when they returned but have since become unwell. The families have contacted NHS 111, self-isolated and are awaiting the results of tests. NHS 111 have been inundated with calls since the half term break and the delay our families have had in accessing medical help has influenced our decision. Any other families that have returned from those areas designated as Category 1 or 2 are requested to complete the emergency contact form on the school website as a matter of urgency. We hope to re-open on Monday 2nd March but will publish details as soon as we hear the results of the tests being conducted on our pupils that have fallen ill. However, if either of our pupils test positive for COVID-19 we will remain closed for a longer period while the school undergoes a full deep clean. Thank you for your continued support in helping to keep our school community as healthy as possible. Yours sincerely Miss Louise Davidson Head Master
The school’s website says it is closed until further notice

‘The families have contacted NHS 111, self-isolated and are awaiting the results of tests.

‘We hope to re-open on Monday 2nd March but will publish details as soon as we hear the results of the tests being conducted on our pupils that have fallen ill. However, if either of our pupils test positive for COVID-19 we will remain closed for a longer period while the school undergoes a full deep clean.’

The £20,000 a year school, which teaches children aged three to 13 years, is a feeder for Dulwich College.

It is the latest UK school to take drastic action to protect against Covid-19 as the illness continues to spread across Europe amid fears of a global pandemic.

Earlier today, a primary school had to close its gates to hundreds of pupils today after a parent was confirmed as having the virus.

Burbage Primary School in Buxton, Derbyshire, announced the decision to shut late yesterday evening in a WhatsApp message.

It is thought to be the first closure in Britain linked to a confirmed case of the new bug named Covid-19.

The headteacher’s WhatsApp message said the closure was a ‘precautionary measure’ to ‘enable a deep clean to be completed’.

He added: ‘A further update will be shared tomorrow. Thank you.’

On Tuesday, Cransley School in Northwich, Cheshire, and Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough announced they would be closed for the rest of the week.

Both schools said that this was to allow for a ‘deep clean’ after pupils and teachers had returned from ski trips in northern Italy.

Trinity Catholic College said that a ‘small number of staff and pupils’ had started showing mild flu-like symptoms following a ski trip.

Pupils have been told to stay away from a Teesside school amid concerns over the Coronavirus. Youngsters and staff at Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough recently returned from northern Italy on Monday, after an eight-day ski trip. Updated advice from the chief medical officer now recommends that anyone returning to the UK from 11 quarantined towns in the country should now "self-isolate". Trinity Catholic College, Saltersgill Avenue, Teesside. 18.09.17.
Pupils have been told to stay away from Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough (Picture: Evening Gazette)

Lutton St Nicholas and Gedney Church End primary schools in Lincolnshire also said they had closed ‘because of a potential connection to the Coronavirus by an individual within the school’ and St Christopher’s C of E High School in Accrington told parents it would be shut on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sandbach High School in Cheshire said students and staff who visited Aprica, in Italy’s Lombardy region, were to stay indoors and self-isolate.

A third Cheshire school, Brine Leas School in Nantwich, said its sixth form was closed due to staff shortages following Government advice regarding travel to Italy.

Pupils from Penair School in Truro, Cornwall, Salendine Nook High School in Huddersfield, Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School in West Derby and Newquay Tretherras in Newquay, have also been advised to stay home after returning from ski trips.

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