WITH a number of Chinese students within the community, Wellington School is taking extremely seriously the threat of Coronavirus.

“The health and safety of our children and, indeed, everyone in the Wellington community is my highest priority,” said Headmaster Eugene du Toit yesterday.

“Our Health Centre is in contact with Public Health England who have informed us that they will be producing written guidance for schools in the next few days. Their position is that they are currently only concerned about people who have travelled from the Wuhan area and have started displaying flu-like symptoms.

“We are not aware of any student or member of staff at the school having made a journey to this region of China in the past fourteen days (the incubation period) or, indeed, well before that.”

“The school is also in contact with Medical Officers of Schools Association whose advice is that contact is maintained with Public Health England to make them aware of the demographic profile of pupil body. The school has taken this step.“In addition, the parents and guardians of all Chinese and Hong Kong boarders have been contacted, requesting that their children do not travel home during the coming half-term break.

“Should parents insist on their children travelling home, they will not be able to return to school until it is confirmed that they are not infected with the virus. Children in this situation will be held in quarantine with their guardian until they are medically approved to return to School.

“I have also told parents of students in Year 11 and in the Upper Sixth that they should

anticipate not allowing their children to travel home during the Easter break so that their ability to complete external examinations is not compromised.”

“It is of paramount importance that we do everything within our power to minimise the threat of Coronavirus to our children and the community and keep everyone safe,” added Eugene du Toit.