30 Jan 2020
Dear Parents, Carers and Students,
Following from the recent email I sent to you all, there has been an update to health warnings surrounding the Novel Coronavirus. The new advice includes travellers returning from Hong Kong as well as mainland China. Please contact the school and let us know if you are affected by these health guidelines.
Current advice from the Australian Government Department of Health for parents and affected staff is:
· People who have been in contact with any confirmed Novel Coronavirus cases must be isolated in their home for 14 days following exposure;
· Returned travellers who have been in Hubei Province of China must be isolated in their home for 14 days after leaving Hubei Province, other than for seeking individual medical care.
Students and staff currently excluded from school are those who:
· over the last 14 days has visited the province of Hubei in central China. They should not return to school or child care services for a period of 14 days after leaving China, as the coronavirus’ incubation period can be as long as two weeks or
· are under medical assessment or
· have been diagnosed with the Novel Coronavirus or
· have had close contact with a confirmed case of the Novel Coronavirus. The Ministry of Health has processes in place to identify any close contacts of cases confirmed in Australia.
In addition The NSW Ministry of Health and NSW Department of Education have recommended that:
· Any student or staff member who was in China, including Hong Kong but excluding the province of Hubei over the past 14 days is recommended not attend school or child care services for a period of 14 days after leaving Hubei Province, as the Novel Coronavirus’ incubation period can be as long as two weeks.
Students who returned to Australia more than 14 days ago and have shown no symptoms are able to return to school this week.
There has been a small number of cases of confirmed Novel Coronavirus in New South Wales.
The Ministry of Health has processes in place to identify any close contacts of cases confirmed in Australia. Advice about not attending school would be provided to these close contacts by the Ministry of Health.
Consistent with current guidelines, staff and students who are unwell with respiratory illness should remain at home until symptoms resolve. In accordance with our current practice if any child becomes unwell we will implement our infection control guidelines and follow the advice provided by the Ministry of Health as appropriate.
I will keep the school community updated as more information comes to hand.
Kind Regards
Bree Harvey-Bice
(Relieving Principal)