Forty students whose school trip to Italy was cut short due to a coronavirus shutdown are set to go into isolation.
The group of children, from Longbenton High School, set off for the skiing trip to Courmayeur in northern Italy on Saturday.
However, parents were told on Monday that the youngsters would be returning home early after it was announced ski resorts in the region would close and not reopen this season in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus.
British nationals were also being warned against all but essential travel to Italy in updated advice issued by the Government.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the safety of Britons was the "number one priority" as it amended its travel advice. It also said anyone returning from Italy should self-isolate for 14 days.
The updated guidance came after Italian premier Giuseppe Conte extended restrictions from the north to the entire country in an attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19, after the country's death toll climbed to 463.
Paul Quinn, headteacher of Longbenton High, said: "The health and wellbeing of our students and staff is always our top priority.
"Following the change in Government guidance last night (March 9), everyone returning from the ski trip to Courmayeur, Italy, has been asked to self-isolate for 14 days.
"It is important to note that this is a precautionary measure – everyone on the trip is fit and well and the risk to them and anyone who comes into contact with them is low.
"This does not affect anyone else in their household or other children in the school, and all other children should attend school as normal.
"We have been in close contact with the parents/carers on the trip and we have written to all parents/carers with children in our school again today (March 10).
"The local authority continues to provide support and we are following latest Government advice."
There are six confirmed cases of coronavirus in the North East - one in Sunderland, four in Newcastle and one in North Tyneside.
