A British teenager has fallen ill after returning from Italy and and faces a lonely two days in self-isolation, unable to go near her family while she waits to see if she has coronavirus.
Kaitlin Boltwood, 15, had been skiing in Folgarida, Italy and her group had flown in and out of Milan, gone shopping and went bowling before some of them fell ill with flu-like symptoms.
Kaitlin is currently quarantined in her bedroom with no contact with family - and her mum can't even give her a hug.
Speaking to Mirror Online this afternoon, mum Stacey said the family faced a tense waiting game while the isolation was taking tolls on Kaitlin - and her mum.
"It's actually getting to her now, having to be stuck in her room all that time. I think it's starting to take its toll," she said.
Stacey revealed how she is spending hours sat outside her daughter's room, talking to her through the door.
"It's going to be a rough couple of days. I can't do anything but sit outside the bedroom talking to her," she said.
"She's just sat watching Netflix and playing on her phone.
"It's exhausting as well, all the worrying. You just don't know what to do."
The mum suspects her daughter may have caught the virus in an airport.
"It's quite worrying because Kaitlin was vomiting in Italy and was given a tablet to travel back," she added.
She is optimistic about her daughter getting through this as she is a "healthy 15-year-old". Doctors have told the family that if she comes into contact with anyone who had respiratory problems or the elderly, it could prove fatal.
The family now faces a nail-biting wait to discover if Kaitlin, from Honley, West Yorkshire, has the deadly coronavirus.
She was tested at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary this morning and the family, including her husband Chris and two other children, must now wait 24-to-28 hours for a microbiologist to call with the results.
Stacey told ExaminerLive earlier today: "She started with flu-like symptoms on Monday and they have gradually got worse. She has started shivering and aching and she has a sore throat .
"She is really lethargic, like you are when you have flu. She was vomiting in Italy as well so they gave her a sickness tablet.
"She had to be isolated - she can't come out of her room. I can pass her food and then wash my hands but that's it.
"Any tissues she's had to bag up and we are not allowed to get rid of it until her results come. I can't do any of her washing - it's got to be kept separate.
"We have just been giving her cold and flu tablets and paracetamol and keeping her topped up with fluids. I feel really sorry for her."
Stacey described her fears over her child's illness and how it's affecting the family.
She added: "As a mum it's awful. You just want to love your child when she is poorly.
"She's very quiet - it's playing on her mind.
"I'm very scared, but suppose I'm trying to keep a brave face, praying and hoping everything will come back okay."
Kaitlin had been skiing with pals from Honley High School and returned home on Saturday and became ill at school on Tuesday.
The school sent Kaitlin home and advised Stacey to ring 111.
Stacey said: "I went through the symptoms and the nurse said Kaitlin needed testing for coronavirus.
"Since then lots of different specialists have been ringing me. I've had calls from Public Health England, an infection control specialist, nurses, doctors and consultants."
Kaitlin then faced a frightening round of tests at the hospital.
Stacey said: "There was a woman waiting for us at the hospital with a hazmat suit on. It was really frightening for Kaitlin.
"But the woman was really nice. She told Kaitlin to keep isolated, keep drinking and to try stay away from her siblings."
Stacey said she had been advised to keep her other children, Logan, eight, and Courtney, nine, away from Kaitlin, but they were fine to go to school.
She said she believed the rest of the family would have been displaying symptoms by now if they had contracted the virus.
"If the results are positive she will have to be quarantined in hospital in Leeds or Sheffield. I'm not sure how long she will have to stay," she said.
"I would be heartbroken. It would be so hard.
"I think she would be kept in a room and we would be able to see her, or we could go in wearing hazmat suits.
"I know if she does have the virus she's a healthy 15-year-old so apart from her flu symptoms she should be okay with the treatment she will receive."
Honley High School has recorded a statement on the case which is the first thing callers hear when they telephone the school.
It states: "We have been made aware that one of our students has been tested for Covid 19.
"We have not received confirmation that any child at this school has received a diagnosis of coronavirus.
"The health and wellbeing of our students and staff, their families and our community is of paramount importance to us.
"We have been liaising regularly with Public Health England since the beginning of the week and have followed their advice to the letter. They are fully up to date with our circumstances and have been clear with us that we should remain calm and go about our daily business.
"They have reiterated that students and staff that attended our ski trip do not need to be sent home and should only self isolate and call 111 if they develop flu-like symptoms, a fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
"We will of course remain in contact with PHE and provide updates to our school community as we receive them."
The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.
