Pupils at Prince George and Princess Charlotte's school isolated over coronavirus fears

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Pupils at Prince George and Princess Charlotte's school are in self-isolation at their homes over fears they may have coronavirus.

Reports say four pupils from Thomas's Battersea in southwest London have been sent home awaiting test results for Covid-19.

Two of the children reported flu-like symptoms following a trip to northern Italy.

None of the children at the school where George, 6, and Charlotte, 4, are pupils have been confirmed to have caught the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 80,000 worldwide.


The school is one of more than 40 in the UK that has been affected since the outbreak in Italy during ski season which has seen official Government warnings issued to British travellers.

Some schools across the UK have shut indefinitely and others have sent pupils home temporarily while they await assessments.

But Public Health England (PHE) said that its general advice is not to close schools.

The organisation's medical director Paul Cosford told Radio 4's Today programme: "Schools have to take difficult decisions given the complexity of issues that they are facing.

"What I would say is that our general advice is not to close schools."

The school is reported to have issued a statement to Spanish news site El Confidencial in which it confirmed the measures.

Thomas's Battersea said: "Like all schools, we are taking very seriously the potential risks related to the spread of Covid-19 and to this end we are following the Government's instructions to the letter on infection prevention and case management in which it is suspected that some staff member or students exposed to the virus or showing any symptoms.

We currently have a very small number of students who have been evaluated and these individuals currently remain in their homes waiting to receive the results of their exams.

"All parents have been informed and we have maintained regular communication with our school community to ensure that councils are shared and important information circulated.

"Of course, we will preserve the confidentiality of staff and students, and we will not comment on specific cases."

Emails have reportedly been sent to Thomas's parents advising them that four children are being assessed for symptoms, such as coughs and fever.

They are said to have been advised to stay home as a precaution.