Cheshire East Council has provided latest advice to the borough's schools about the issue of pupils and staff returning from trips to Italy amid coronavirus concerns.

It follows the decisions by Sandbach High School and Brine Leas School to send pupils and staff home after they had returned from northern Italy.

Dr Matt Tyrer, acting director of public health at Cheshire East Council, said: "We have had a number of queries in relation to school trips to Italy.

"We have further liaised today with Public Health England to get the latest advice.

There are two specific areas in the north of Italy that have put in control measures – one area of 10 villages in lowland Lombardy and one village in the Veneto region.

"If individuals have been to these specific towns, the advice is to self-isolate and contact NHS 111.

"In relation to the rest of Italy, individuals who have flu-like symptoms should contact NHS 111 for advice. Individuals without these symptoms do not need to contact NHS 111 or self-isolate.

"This means pupils and teachers can go back into school as normal."

The map via the link below shows the village areas in Italy affected by the restrictions, which are away from the mountain ski resorts. Map: https://bit.ly/2wJT1oV

Further guidance for travellers returning from Italy is available via the Gov.UK website at: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/health

Prevention is always better than cure, so, as with the flu virus, the most effective way for people to protect themselves from Covid-19 is to adopt good respiratory and hand hygiene to prevent the risk of infection and a 'catch it, bin it, kill it' approach to coughs and sneezes. As the situation develops guidance is updated daily.