Worried mums have been keeping their children off school amid coronavirus fears - despite government advice.
Boris Johnson has so far resisted calls to close schools in the UK, where another 171 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the country's total to 1,543.
But parents have been taking it upon themselves to keep their children out of schools to 'keep their families protected'.
The #Covid19walkout hashtag trended on Twitter last night with parents taking to social media to say they are prepared to stage a walkout on March 20 if no action has been taken.
Mirror Online has spoken to parents across the country who feel they've been forced to keep their children at home.
One mum, Amanda Savage-Sperka, from Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire, has decided to keep her son Sylwester, 11, off school.
She said: "We have not been affected directly, but I have made the choice to keep my son home from school due to health problems in our home.
"I made the decision over the weekend. My reasons are because of I suffer from respiratory health problems and neurological problems and my 11-year-old son is prone to coughs, colds and flu which always causes wheezing and respiratory problems.
Have you taken your child out of school? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk
"As a result I have made the decision to keep my 11-year-old son at home regardless of what the government say.
"I am not willing to be one of Bojo's statistics.
"The school haven't said much, I spoke to the receptionist only, she understands but due to the protocol set out by the government it will be classed as an unauthorised absence and I will have to phone the school every morning to report his absence.
"I have also sent emails to the safe guarding principle. The school haven't said but I do know that I could be fined for unauthorised absence which I think is absolutely crazy at times like this.
"You read about parents that are afraid of being fined so they send their kids to school in fear."
Faye Hamilton, who has a number of underlying health conditions, said her daughter being at school would be too much of a risk to the health of both of them.
She said: "Even my daughter says 'mummy we have done the best thing by keeping me home'.
"She is in a quandary about what to do. She calls [coronavirus] the thing that can't be named."
Another mother has said "schools are already well known for germ spreading - I’m protecting all my family keeping them off."
Faye Hamilton, 46, said as of yesterday she has chosen to keep eight-year-old daughter Savannagh off school.
The mum has leukaemia for which she is undergoing her second round of chemotherapy, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism and Raynaud's disease.
Faye, whose daughter attends Abacus Belsize Primary School, says she's worried about herself and her daughter at the same time.
Speaking to Mirror Online, Faye, from Hampstead in London, said: "I’m keeping my child off school even though we’ve been told to send them in. I don't know how long I will keep her off for.
"What will happen to me and my child if she contracts this and brings it home on her school uniform?
"I have various underlying health conditions - what implications could me getting coronavirus have on me?
"I don't know if they will treat this as an authorised or unauthorised absence - but if it's unauthorised I don't care I will just pay the fine.
"It's too much of a risk for me and my daughter to take.
"She has a cough and the GP is saying to get onto 111.
"The school is being very supportive but they are stuck themselves because they are going by government guidelines. It's not the school's fault at all.
"Is the government doing enough? They are shutting down cities in Europe.
"Most viruses in general are caught in schools anyway.
"I understand teachers don't have a choice but as parents we are responsible for our children.
"We don't take children out of school for no reason.
"Even my daughter says 'mummy we have done the best thing by keeping me home'.
"Even she is in a quandary about what to do. She calls it the thing that can't be named."
Faye, who lives in a one-bed flat with her daughter, says she has bought a sufficient supply of tinned food and she and Savannagh are staying home.
She claims other parents at the school are also keeping their kids off.
"There are a few older parents at the school who are taking the same stance as me and for their own safety."
Tracee Cossey, 46, has kept her four-year-old daughter Nathalia of school since Friday - and doesn't know what to do beyond today.
Tracee, from Dorchester, said: "My daughter has had a host of viral infections since she was 15 months- always getting colds.
"She is nearly five.
"I took her out of school on Friday because she had a cold.
"Because of money I am likely going back to work tomorrow but who knows what is the right thing?"
Tracee, a teaching assistant, said: "On this occasion I just wanted to be a bit safe.
"I'm having to take the decision as to what to do tomorrow.
"I feel pressured into taking her back to school and I don't really want to if I'm honest.
"If it was down to me I'd keep her at home but there are more factors involved."
Another mum, Magdalena Krol told Mirror Online: "I have not sent my children to school today due to the coronavarius risk.
"I have a right to decide about my childrens health and life.
"The government is failing us."
And another mum said: "I am keeping my three older children off school aged 13, 10 and seven due to their two one-year-old premature twins - one with a hole in his heart.
"My husband has fibromyalgia and other underlying health conditions.
"Schools are already well known for germ spreading I’m protecting all my family keeping them off."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "The current advice from Public Health England is that schools should remain open unless advised otherwise.
"It is for headteachers to decide whether an individual absence is authorised, but where schools are open and pupils are not unwell and have not been asked to self-isolate by PHE, we would expect them to attend school as normal."
If a pupil is unwell or self isolating the absence will be marked as authorised.
