COVID-19 update
Important messages – St John's Footscray
COVID updates/re-sharing latest information:
April 26, 2022
Dear parents and carers,
I hope you and your families enjoyed a wonderful break over the Easter holidays. There are some important changes to COVIDSafe measures for schools that will apply from the start of Term 2.
Face masks
From 11:59 pm Friday 22 April, face masks, while recommended, are not required in any school setting. This means students in grades 3 to 6, staff and visitors in primary schools are no longer required to wear face masks. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at-risk.
Rapid antigen test screening requirements
Students who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. This was previously 8 weeks.
Household contacts
Students who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are not required to quarantine. They may return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times during their 7-day period. They are required to notify the school that they are a household contact. Students aged 8 years and above who are household contacts are required to wear face masks when indoors at school unless they have a valid exemption. If a student household contact returns a positive RAT result, they must isolate for 7 days.
Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools
Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
RAT screening program reminder
RATs will continue to be supplied for the first 4 weeks of Term 2 to support the early detection of COVID-19 in our school. The testing recommendations will remain the same this Term for students and staff with:
- mainstream schools – recommended to test at home twice a week
- specialist schools – recommended to test 5 days a week at home due to the higher risk of severe illness for medically vulnerable children.
As we approach winter and flu season, the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 and booster shots for students 16+ remains the best way to ensure protection for students and staff. If you have any concerns about getting your child vaccinated, please get in contact with your GP or another health professional who can answer your questions.
What you need to know
If your child is not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, they can continue to attend school, but you should monitor for symptoms.
Children who show symptoms of COVID-19 cannot attend school and should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Children should continue with twice-a-week rapid antigen testing on school days. Students who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. This was previously 8 weeks.
For information on symptoms visit:
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/symptoms-and-risks.
For more information on how to get tested visit: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/taking-test-covid-19
If your child returns a positive result, your child has COVID-19. You must:
● quarantine your child for seven days
● advise the school about the positive result
● Your child must stay home until their symptoms have resolved and they are well
Reporting your child’s positive test
If your child was at school when they were infectious you need to report the positive case through the Student COVID-19 Test Portal or you can notify the school in writing or by phone.
You must also report your child’s positive test to the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.
Further information for languages other than English
● For school information in languages other than English, call TIS National on 131 450.
● For translated written information about COVID-19, please visit: Translated information about COVID-19 | Coronavirus Victoria.
● Please ask them to call the DET COVID-19 hotline on 1800 338 663 and they will help interpret.
● For health advice in languages other than English, visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/translated-information-about-coronavirus-covid-19
Financial support available to people affected by COVID-19:
For more information, visit:
Financial and other support for COVID-19 | Coronavirus Victoria
General advice and support
Advice and further resources about what to do if you test positive to COVID-19, or you have been told you are a contact, are at: Your COVID Checklist | Coronavirus Victoria, or call the 24/7 Coronavirus hotline on: 1800 675 398
If you have any further questions about St. John's COVID management, please call/email School Office or Emily.
Thank you for your ongoing support in keeping our school safe.
Emily Conroy
St John’s Primary School