Advice letters sent out to Burnley schools after two cases of coronavirus confirmed in UK

Public Health England has issued guidelines about the virus and the information has been sent out to schools across the county from Lancashire County Council.

Schools have been asked to issue parents with letters containing advice following the news that two people, both members of the same family, had been diagnosed with the virus in this country.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "As a responsible organisation we've made general information produced by Public Health England about Coronavirus available to schools."

Originating in Wuhan City, China, the letter states that if you have travelled to a high risk area, or if you have been in contact with someone who has, and if you develop symptoms, you should contact NHS 111 for advice.

The letter says: "You should not go to the doctor or to hospital, as if you have the virus, you may risk spreading it to others."

The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has risen to 170, and a confirmed case in Tibet means it has now reached every region in mainland China.

Chinese health authorities said there were 7,711 confirmed cases in the country as of two days ago. Infections have also spread to at least 15 other countries.

The World Health Organization are meeting in Geneva to consider whether the virus should be declared a global health emergency.

Until then the advice from Public Health England for anyone who has travelled from Wuhan to the UK in the last 14 days includes:

* Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu viruses

* Call NHS 111 to inform them of their recent travel to the city.

* Even if you do not have symptoms of the virus you should still follow the above advice.

The letter adds: "People are being asked to take simple, common-sense steps to avoid close contact with other people as much as possible, like they would with other flu viruses."