PARENTS and carers of students at St James's school have been told that the school will remain open after a student reported symptoms suggestive of coronavirus.

A woman posted online to say that her family member had been diagnosed over the phone with covid-19.

Nina Barry said: "I just want people to know who has been near Harvey that he has been diagnosed over the phone with the doctor for corona.

"He is really poorly and he will be staying off school the whole week until he gets better.

"I am not happy about teachers and pupils at St James's school as they have been sent home with the symptoms while they should not have been in school in the first place.

"I have emailed the school as they need to take precautions."

She added that her whole family was self-isolating due to the situation.

The Farnworth Secondary School sent out an email this evening advising that the student was currently in self isolation for the next seven days.

The email said: "I have contacted both the Department for Education and Public Health England today. The current guidance is that St James's should remain open.

"Pupils and staff can continue to attend the school as normal as long as they have no symptoms."

The email then listed current Public Health England advice- saying that any students or staff who have symptoms of the coronavirus should self-isolate for seven days.

Earlier today, the UK's coronavirus death toll rose to 35, with it now being revealed the Government will ask elderly people to self-isolate for up to four months.

The Department of Health said 14 more patients have died in England after testing positive for Covid-19. This follows the 10 deaths announced on Saturday.

A total of 34 people have died from the virus in England, while there has been one death in Scotland.

There have been a total of 1,372 positive tests for coronavirus in the UK as of 9am on Sunday, up from 1,140 at the same time on Saturday, the DoH said.