A WORRIED mum is keeping four of her children off school because she fears for the safety of her son amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

Jo Garrad’s son Michael Cartwright, nine, has complex congenital heart disease which has required four open heart surgeries.

His condition leaves him vulnerable to infection and contracting the Covid-19 disease could kill him.

The virus has spread throughout the UK, with 116 confirmed cases and one death as of Friday.

Michael and two of his brothers, aged 11 and eight, have been granted authorised absences by Iceni Academy in Colchester.

Jo, of Shrub End, said her 12-year-old daughter’s absence from Philip Morant School in Colchester remains officially unauthorised although the school is sympathetic to her situation.

“In my case if his siblings bring it home, Michael will catch it and it will have a devastating impact on him,” said Jo.

“This is a necessary step. There is not enough information out there to know exactly what the virus will do and as parents we should be given the choice to pull them out of school.”

“The guidance to schools coming from the government locally and nationally seems to be contradictory.”

She added: “I know many parents are actually deregistering their children from school to avoid being penalised through unauthorised absences.”

Scott Holder, executive head teacher at Philip Morant School, said: “Over the last few days, we have received more information from the local authority on which absence codes to use for those young people who are self-isolating.

“This guidance is not about authorised or unauthorised absence, it is about the use of a code for special circumstances when a child cannot access school.

“We will discuss this with parents over the next few days and obtain information from health professionals.”

Iceni Academy said it followed guidance from the Director of Education for Essex in granting Jo’s request to keep her children off school.

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “In cases where individuals have been provided with advice from 111 or have clear justification to self-isolate, schools have been advised to record this as exceptional circumstances.”

Colchester Institute has cancelled a planned student trip to Italy later this month due to the prevalence of coronavirus in the country.

The college decided to cancel the catering students’ trip destined for Venice, Bologna, Florence and Rome after receiving updated advice from the Government.

A Colchester Institute spokesman said: “The college have been closely monitoring Government advice relating to coronavirus, and in response to particular changes to Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice regarding returning from Italy, we have cancelled the trip.

“We regret the students will lose this great opportunity but ultimately the wellbeing of all must be the priority.

“All students will be refunded and we have already confirmed this to the students and parents involved.”