COVID-19

In the cooler weather more students are presenting with colds and flu, please read the below information for management of these symptoms.

Management of COVID-19 in schools

It is recommended that staff members, students or visitors who have symptoms of cold, influenza or COVID-19 do not attend school, or go home as soon as possible after becoming unwell at school. Parents of symptomatic students should be asked to collect their child from school and keep them home until they are no longer symptomatic.

The Department of Health recommends that staff and students who test positive for COVID-19 isolate for a minimum of 5 days and do not attend school until their symptoms resolve. If well enough, students should be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning material provided to support their continued learning.

Face masks

Current advice from the Department of Health is available at Better Health Channel – face masks and COVID-19.

Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so, and schools must continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.

The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who:

• is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home
• has COVID-19 for at least 7 days after a positive test when they need to leave home.

Infection prevention and control

All staff, students and visitors to schools should practise good hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet. Staff should direct or supervise young students where required.