EMC COVID Update

Look after yourself

Frequently Asked Questions for Parents/Carers

Since Victoria reached the 80% vaccination rate rules have been significantly modified. Please read the following questions and responses to alleviate any questions or concerns you may have:

If a student tests positive, what happens next?

Staff/parents should communicate with the College when a staff, student, contractor, parent or other member of the community who has been onsite within the last 48 hours, has tested positive. Confirmation from the parent of a positive COVID result should be sent to: covidohs@emc.vic.edu.au
A delegated Principal team member will alert DET via an IRIS Alert.
EMC will then be guided by the Department in relation to a positive case within a school environment. This may include:-
- DET may instruct the school to close for an initial 24 hours to allow for identification and notification of primary close contacts (PCCs).
- DET may instruct only affected Home Groups/classes to not attend onsite
- For secondary schools, where a student may have mixed across different subjects on particular days, a year level may be classified as PCCs. Note: this will depend on the level of face-mask compliance, the degree of mixing across classes and year levels, and the time spent together.
EMC will contact the identified PCCs within the affected Home Group/class advising PCCs they should stay home and get tested as soon as possible.
EMC will make contact with our cleaners and identify high-touch areas where the affected case has been that requires additional cleaning.
Department of Health (DH) will send an SMS to the PCCs advising them of their quarantine, testing and release dates.

Who is deemed a primary close contact (PCC)?
1. To be deemed a likely primary close contact, staff/students are required to have been in the same room as a positive person for a 2 hour cumulative period in a single day. The infectious period is 48 hours prior to becoming symptomatic or 48 hours prior to testing if asymptomatic.
2. If staff/students have not been in contact with the positive person for greater than 2 hours, until any symptoms develop, they are deemed unaffected and can continue to attend school.
3. Should any symptoms develop, you are strongly encouraged to get yourself tested
Do students have to be vaccinated?

No, whilst students are encouraged to be vaccinated to protect themselves and the community, it is not mandated for students to be vaccinated at this stage.

3. If a student tests positive, or is asked to isolate awaiting test results, when can they return to school? What clearance is required from DH?

When vaccinated students have received clearance/an end to their isolation period from DH, they must provide this clearance documentation to school. A screen shot is fine. Then they can resume back onsite.
From Monday 15 November, the Department of Education and Training will implement a statewide roll-out of the rapid antigen testing program with any new COVID-19 exposures at school sites. The at-home rapid antigen testing program is an opt-in program for unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated, students. EMC will provide parents with rapid antigen test kits when available, as needed.
For families participating in the at-home rapid antigen testing program, children must quarantine at home for seven days.
On day six of quarantine, the child must get a standard (PCR) test at a local COVID-19 testing site. If the test is negative, they must provide the results to EMC covidohs@emc.vic.edu.au, and can then return to school on day eight.
Students will then be required to return a negative rapid antigen test result each morning from days eight to 14 on school days, which must be reported to EMC by 8:30am before they arrive at school. Confirmation of this negative rapid antigen test should be provided to covidohs@emc.vic.edu.au

Resources for parents/carers (headspace)

This short video has some tips for families. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw3LzWe-93U . The key message here is to look after yourself first!