Coronavirus Update as at March 18th 2020
Dear Parent/Carer,
I am this evening writing with a further update on the Coronavirus outbreak following the government’s latest announcements a couple of hours ago.
Firstly, I would again like to reiterate that we continue to remain open as normal for the remainder of the week for all students but again must remind you all that anyone who has a high temperature (37.8 degrees and above) or a new, continuous cough, should stay at home. In line with government guidance, if staff or students become unwell on site with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature they will be sent home.
Don’t forget too that in recent days, the government has introduced new guidance on whole household isolation in response to the outbreak:
- If you live with others and you or another member of the household have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. It is likely that people living within a household will infect each other or be infected already. Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community
- For anyone in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14-day isolation period.
For further detail on whole household isolation, please see the following website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
In the interests of continuing to be open and transparent, a total of four members of staff and thirteen students have now informed us that as a precautionary measure, they are self-isolating having displayed some of the symptoms referred to above. No official cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed, we have taken advice from the Department of Education this week and once more, I stress that we remain open.
Following the announcement from the government tonight that all schools will be closed to everyone except children of key workers and “most vulnerable children” from Monday 23rd March, I simply wanted to say that I will keep you all updated once we receive further detail. Early indications are that keyworkers are being defined as NHS staff, emergency service staff and delivery drivers who need to be able to go to work so if you fall into one of these categories, I would be grateful if you could e-mail me and let me know to assist with our forward planning. A full list of key worker categories will be published by the government tomorrow and I will update you once I obtain this detail. Early indications are also that we will be remaining open for all students who have a social worker and those with Education, Health and Care Plans.
Students who do not fall into these groups should remain at home with appropriate care from Monday.
Finally, a further reminder that I would also be grateful if you could all check that we have your most up to date contact details so that we can continue to communicate with you all quickly and effectively. Don’t forget that as always, alongside any paper copies of letters and mobile phone texts, we post all of our latest news on the following social media platforms:
www.twitter.com/edgenorthfield
www.facebook.com/edgeacademynorthfield
www.instagram.com/theedgeacademynorthfield
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCecMYPWTNC-DYEbioHbBFvA
Your support in these challenging times is hugely appreciated. If you have any further questions or anxieties regarding this letter, please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected].
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Wakefield
Principal