FRESH guidance has been released regarding children and whether they should remain at school as the number of UK coronavirus cases rises to almost 1,400.

On Monday, the government said children who develop a continuous cough or fever while at school should be sent home with suspected coronavirus (COVID-19).

Updated guidance from the government suggests all places of education should remain open unless they have been specifically advised to close by Public Health England (PHE).

But guidance also says pupils and school staff should stay at home if they are found to have the continuous cough or a high temperature as to "avoid infecting" others.

According to NHS England, a high temperature in both children and adults is generally considered by doctors to be a figure that is either 38c and over.

'Children to be isolated'

The new guidance recommends that pupils becoming unwell at school should be isolated while they wait for their parents to collect them - behind a closed door, with a window open.

It says if this is not possible, then students should be moved to an area at least two metres away from other people, while separate bathrooms should be used.

Recommending that school staff dealing with suspected COVID-19 cases should not need to go home unless they develop symptoms, general advice continues to be to wash hands for 20 seconds.

Current Public Health England guidance says regularly touched objects should be cleaned and disinfected more than usual using standard cleaning products, while young children should be supervised to ensure they wash their hands for 20 seconds using soap and water.