Two teachers at a Hythe school are understood to be self isolating following a stay in northern Italy.

In a letter to parents - seen by KentOnline - senior vice principal at Brockhill Park, Charles Joseph, says two members of staff have been 'absent from school' following a trip to the severely affected country.

He adds that they have 'taken the decision based on advice they have received from NHS 111'.

He stresses that the employees did not stay in or visit any of the 'lock down areas' in the European country.

And re-assures parents that the school is following Public Health England advice, with no further action required at this time.

The school has been approached for a comment.

It is not the first Kent school to take precautions due to the spreading virus.

Three school children at Sir Roger Manwood's in Sandwich were sent home in a coronavirus scare on Wednesday but were later found to be clear of the illness.

Today it was announced that a man diagnosed with coronavirus in Surrey is the first to have caught it from within the UK itself.

He had not been abroad recently and it is not clear how he came into contact with it.

It takes the total number of UK cases to 20.

Read more: All the latest news from Hythe

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