Dear parent/carer,
You’re likely aware of the outbreak of novel coronavirus and the subsequent confirmed cases in the UK. At School of Christ the King, we take the health and safety of our pupils and staff very seriously, so we’re sharing guidance from Public Health England on steps you should be taking.
There’s currently no cause for concern at the school, but we’ll keep you informed about any developments and ensure we’re keeping the school clean to prevent the spread of any virus.
Prevent the spread of infection
Make sure you and your children follow these general principles to prevent spreading any respiratory virus:
- Wash your hands often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or an alcohol-based sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- If you feel unwell, stay at home and don’t attend work or school
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home
- If you’re worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111 – don’t go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment
If you or your children have returned from a category 1 country or area in past 14 days
This includes:
- Wuhan city and Hubei province, China
- Iran*
- Daegu or Cheongdo, South Korea*
- Any Italian town under containment measures* (see the map here) *Only if you’ve returned on or after 19 February 2020
Contact NHS 111 for advice, and:
- Self-isolate for 14 days after leaving the country or area (see the home isolation advice sheet for help with this)
- If you become unwell, call NHS 111 immediately for an assessment (or 999 if you require emergency medical attention) – see below for the symptoms to look out for
If you or your children have returned from a category 2 country or area in last 14 days
This includes:
- Cambodia*
- China (other than Wuhan city or Hubei province)
- Hong Kong
- Italy* (other than the towns under containment measures)
- Japan
- Laos*
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Myanmar*
- Singapore
- South Korea (other than Daegu or Cheongdo)
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Vietnam*
- *Only if you’ve returned on or after 19 February 2020
If you or your children are well:
- You don’t need to avoid contact with other people
- Your other family members don’t need to take any precautions or make any changes to their own activities
If you become unwell (see below for a list of symptoms):
- Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu viruses (see the home isolation advice sheet for help with this)
- Call NHS 111 immediately for an assessment (or 999 if you require emergency medical attention)
Symptoms to look out for
If you’ve returned from any of the category 1 or 2 areas or countries, look out for the following symptoms:
- Cough
- Difficulty in breathing
- Fever (a temperature of 38 degrees C or higher)
According to other official guidance, while you wait for further advice:
- Avoid contact with others
- Stay at home – don’t go to work or school
- Don’t travel while sick
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing, throwing tissues in the bin
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (or an alcohol-based sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available)
If you or your child have any further concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office on 01179 664844
Yours sincerely
Matt Condon
Head teacher
