COVID-19 update

COVID updates/re-sharing latest information:

New COVID Guidelines:

Requirements for close contacts, like continually testing negative on a rapid antigen test (RAT), are strong recommendations – joining the strong recommendation to wear a mask indoors, which will remain in place.

Changes to COVID-19 isolation requirements

It is strongly recommended that students:

• who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days
• should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic
• who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.

Where students become symptomatic at school, they should:

• be collected by their parents/carers
• undergo testing for COVID-19.

It is strongly recommended that staff:

• who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days
• should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.

COVID-19 reporting requirements

The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 should inform those with whom they have recently been in contact, including their workplace, school and household.

Schools are therefore asked to continue reporting positive COVID-19 cases to Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS).

Principals no longer have to alert their school communities of positive cases.

Face masks

• Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so, and schools should 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.
• Additionally, the department recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for 10 days after a positive test when they need to leave home.

COVID-19 vaccination changes

The current mandatory vaccination requirement for staff, visitors, contractors and volunteers working in special schools will cease to apply from 11.59 pm on Wednesday 12 October.

Further messages from St John's

• Please contact the office if you require a RAT kit
• Using RAT Kits to test only when symptomatic 
• Still report to the school when returning a positive to COVID-19 test
• Please stay home if you are unwell

We also highly recommend that all Asthma Management Action Plans are updated as we head into unpredictable weather that can impact children who suffer from asthma.

We also recommend children who suffer from hay fever to take regular antihistamine to best manage this or provide antihistamine medication to the school office with completed medication permission form to allow staff to administer medication when required. Contact the school office for more information.