COVID-19
Michael Jennings (Vaccination Champion)
LATEST COVID-19 NEWS
(as previously notified in the SkoolBag app)
COVID UPDATE - July Term 3 2022
Rapid Antigen Tests − Terms 3 and 4
The Victorian Government has determined the rapid antigen test (RAT) distribution strategy for Terms 3 and 4. Under the approach, schools will receive up to three deliveries of RATs each in Terms 3 and 4. Schools will be able to provide these RATs to parents/carers, staff or students on request, as the previous settings that required weekly or daily testing of students and staff have ceased. Each delivery will include one pack of RATs per student or staff member in mainstream schools. We expect that schools will receive their first delivery of RATs by Friday 29 July 2022. More information on the distribution of RATs will be detailed in the forthcoming communication.
A reminder of the updated approach to managing a confirmed case and household contacts of COVID-19 in schools:
Where a student or staff member is identified as a positive case, the following steps should be taken:
1. Parents/carers should inform the school by phone or written notification.
2. Students who report a positive result must isolate themselves for seven days and not attend school during that period.
3. 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. Household contacts are required to inform the school that they are attending during the 7 day period. Household contacts must undertake rapid antigen testing 5 times within the 7-day period. Household contacts need to wear a face mask at school when indoors during the 7-day period if they are aged 8 years or above, unless they have a valid exemption.
4. Principals will notify staff and the school community through a daily email (where applicable) when a student or staff member (or multiple students or staff members) have returned a positive COVID-19 test result and had attended the school.
5. Staff or students need to refrain from returning to school if they remain symptomatic unless it is known that their symptoms are ongoing, or caused by an underlying health condition or medication.
6. In the event of multiple positive cases at a school, the Department of Health (DH) will work with the relevant regional office to determine the most appropriate response and any additional actions that should be taken.