A TEACHER at the Grove Primary School in Trowbridge has gone into self-isolation with suspected Coronavirus.

The teacher apparently showed symptoms of the COVID-19 virus after returning home from a half-term holiday in Rome in Italy.

It is not known whether the teacher – who is believed to be female but has not been named – is one of the three cases in Wiltshire notified by Public Health England and Wiltshire Council on Thursday.

In a letter to parents yesterday, the school’s head teacher, Anna Pemberton, said: “I am writing to inform you that, following advice provided by Public Health England, a member of our staff is self-isolating for 14 days.

“This member of staff spent a few days in Rome, Italy, over the half-term break and the latest guidance (which now includes all Italy and not just northern Italy) issued by the Department of Health and Social Care states: 'stay indoors and avoid contact with other people if you’ve travelled to the UK from the following places in the latest 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath, even if your symptoms are mild: Italy – outside of the lock down area'.

“The member of staff in question has shown mild cold-like symptoms. It is important to stress that we have been advised that the member of staff is at very low risk.

“We are being advised there is similarly very little risk to anyone in the school community and we will continue to operate at usual.

“We will continue to follow all national guidance in line with central government advice and will keep parents and carers and the school community informed with any updated advice passed to us.”

The government today confirmed 164 cases of Coronavirus in the UK. So far, two people have died from the virus. They had underlying health conditions.

There is no news yet of the test results for the St Laurence School pupil at Bradford on Avon who went into self-isolation, despite the school saying the results would be available on Tuesday.

In a post on its website, the school said: "We do not have any news on the test results."

But the school has called off a trip to The Big Bang Fair 2020 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham organised for Thursday, March 12.

It said: "The school trip will not now go ahead as this event has been cancelled by the organisers."

In a statement on Thursday, Debra Lapthorne, centre director, Public Health England South West, said: "Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with three of the latest confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“These cases are residents of Wiltshire and became infected whilst in Northern Italy.

“Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed cases.

“This tried and tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public."

Tracy Daszkiewicz, director of public health for Wiltshire Council, said: "I can confirm that three adults have been notified as having coronavirus and are self-isolating at home.

“The three cases are known to each other and are linked following a trip to Northern Italy.

“If you have not been contacted by Public Health England as a close contact of the confirmed cases you do not need to take any action.

"Good hygiene is the best prevention and there are some simple steps you can take to protect you and your family by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly and if you cough, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.

"If you have recently been to one of the affected areas and are feeling unwell, you should use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service or call NHS 111 for further advice straight away please don't go to your doctor or a hospital.

“There's lots of advice on how people can protect themselves online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus"