COVID-19 isolation requirements have changed

(As per the School Operations Guide 6 October)

Students who report a positive result must isolate for a minimum of 5 days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved.

The school has a small supply of Rapid Antigen Tests. Please contact the office to arrange collection if you require one.

Face Masks in Schools

It is recommended by the Department of Health that face masks are worn in indoor settings or outside where physical distancing is not possible.

Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so.

Household contacts attending school who are over 8 years of age are required to wear face masks indoors unless they have a valid exception.

As an additional risk mitigation, the Department of Health recommends that anyone leaving isolation on day 6 or 7, wears a face mask indoors away from home, and outdoors where they cannot physically distance. For those leaving isolation on day 6, the Department of Health recommends you wear a mask for 5 days but particularly the first 2 days. For those who are leaving isolation on day 7, the Department of Health recommends you wear a mask for 4 days but particularly first 2 days.

Household contacts (close contacts)

Where a student is a household contact of a positive case (that is, they have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility) they must inform the school. Household and household-like contacts are no longer required to quarantine as long as they take additional safety measures in the 7 days that would have been their quarantine period. If household contacts do not undertake the safety measures they are required to isolate and test on Day 1 and Day 6 of isolation. Household contacts are required to inform the school that they are attending during the 7 day period.

What to do if you test positive

A COVID positive result must be reported to:

the school by phone, written communication or the RA Test Portal; this is so the school can support them, record that they will be absent while in 7-day isolation, and let the rest of the school community know there has been a positive case onsite and that they should monitor for symptoms
the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.

Information about how to do a test and how to read RAT results, including a how-to video translated into 33 languages, is available online.

Vaccinations

Thank you to all families who have had their child vaccinated. Vaccination is highly encouraged and continues to remain the best way to protect students and staff in our school.

Getting vaccinated is easy and bookings can be done via the coronavirus website. If you have any questions about the vaccines, please speak to your GP or a health practitioner.

Vaccinations for Visitors

Parents, carers and other adult visitors are no longer required to show evidence of 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine if not performing work or volunteering at the school. Information about vaccination requirements for volunteers is available at COVID-19 Vaccinations - Visitors and Volunteers on School Sites.

Symptoms

The best tool we still have to manage the spread of Covid remains isolating when we have symptoms related this disease.

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/symptoms-and-risks#what-are-the-symptoms-of-covid-19

The symptoms to watch out for are:

fever
chills or sweats
cough
sore throat
shortness of breath
runny nose
loss or change in sense of smell or taste.

Some people may also experience headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Please, do not send your child to school if they display these symptoms. If students present at school with these symptoms the current advice for a symptomatic person in the community who is experiencing Covid-19 symptoms should undertake a Covid-19 PCR test as soon as possible.

I fully understand for families managing work commitments that having to continually leave work or take time of work can be frustrating. However, we need your support in managing the prompt collection of students if they do display the mentioned symptoms at school. This can also be a timely reminder for families to have up to date Emergency Contact details. If parents are at work we will happily use an emergency contact to collect students. Simply put students who display symptoms related to Covid-19 as listed above are not to attend school.

Important Links

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria

Managing COVID at home

Your COVID Checklist | Coronavirus Victoria

Reporting a Positive Rapid Antigen Test

Financial and other support for COVID-19 | Coronavirus Victoria

Coronavirus Hotline - 1800 675 398

Kitchen Garden

Junior Cooking – Mini quiches