The Highland Council - letter to parents re school trip to Northern Italy

A letter has been issued to parents of children who have recently returned from a school trip to Northern Italy.

Since their return, advice regarding the incidence of coronavirus COVID19 in the Lombardy region of Italy has changed and as such the school has written to parents to provide guidance in liaison with Public Health relating to any health concerns.

Artesina is an area to the west of the country and out with the Lombardy region. The Milano-Malpensa airport which the ski group flew in and out of is just on the western fringes of the Lombardy-Piedmont boundary.

The advice from the NHS regarding corona virus COVID19 is that the risk to individuals on the trip is very low. In line with Public Health guidance anyone who has no symptoms can continue to maintain their normal activities and can attend school.

However, if they develop respiratory symptoms in the next 2 weeks they should telephone 111 or your GP, stay indoors and avoid close contact with other people.

The symptoms are:

• a cough
• a high temperature
• shortness of breath

These symptoms do not necessarily mean that you have the virus as they are very similar to other illnesses which are much more common, such as cold and flu.

Donna Manson, Highland Council's Chief Executive said: “The letter home from school is a precautionary measure to provide guidance with Public Health relating to any health concerns parents or pupils may have. We will continue to liaise with Public Health and to update the guidance if-and-when required.”

Further details can be found at https://www.nhsinform.scot/