COVID Update 17th January 2022

Changes to the self-isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19

From Monday 17 January, people who are self-isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative with a lateral flow device (LFD) test on both day 5 and day 6 and they do not have a temperature. For example, if children test negative on the morning of day 5 and the morning of day 6, they can return to school immediately on day 6.

The first test must be taken no earlier than day 5 of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day. All test results should be reported to NHS Test and Trace.

If the result of either of their tests is positive, children should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFD tests on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation, whichever is earliest.

Anyone who is unable to take LFD tests or anyone who continues to have a temperature will need to complete the full 10 day period of self-isolation.

 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Thank you to everyone who supports the school as this really is a shared effort. Please find below some important reminders of how we can continue to work together to keep our St. Vincent’s family healthy and safe, as detailed in the Home School Agreement January 2022. 
·       Please be vigilant to the symptoms of coronavirus and book a PCR test immediately if your child displays any of these symptoms. This has not changed and a PCR test should not be replaced by a lateral flow test if a child displays symptoms.
·       If your child has been identified as a possible close contact of a positive case please complete daily lateral flow tests to ensure your child is not carrying the infection into school, as they may be asymptomatic and thus spreading the virus to others.
·       Please keep the school fully updated. We would much prefer that parents were honest about contacts, symptoms and test results, and then follow the government guidance, even if this means some absence.

The school will also communicate with you about any confirmed cases within your child’s class and to send home any children displaying symptoms so they can isolate and take a PCR test.

CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS

As a reminder, the main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:

• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual

• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

However the symptoms of the newer variants present as a common cold so schools have been advised to have a low threshold of suspicion for cases. Some key symptoms include:

• headache

• sore throat

• runny nose

• pupils who have recently tested positive at school have started feeling poorly with an upset tummy

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported the school with the above. This is greatly appreciated.

 

OUTBREAK MANAGEMENT PLAN

The actions the school will take in response to cases will vary depending on the number. Please see our Covid Outbreak Management Plan.

RISK ASSESSMENT

We regularly review our Risk Assessment. the latest version 16 was updated on 17th January 2022.