You will have no doubt read and heard about the evolving situation regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). I want to reassure you that we are following the precise information given to us directly from the authorities that we will act quickly and appropriately to any specific situation. Dominic Harrison, the borough’s Director of Public Health, is working closely with Public Health England to monitor the situation and deal with any local response should it be required.
The advice is that any staff or students who have recently visited certain parts of Northern Italy should self-quarantine as an additional precaution even if they have no symptoms. Like all schools, we have followed this advice where necessary. I would like to emphasise that no individuals in school have had any symptoms and therefore there is no reason to be concerned. In the UK, as of 25th February, numbers of those testing positive for the virus remain relatively low at 13 people. Over 6,000 people have been tested in this country so far. The UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the public from low to moderate but the risk to individuals remains low.
Below is a useful summary of the latest guidance:
Advice for anyone returning to the UK on or after February 19th from specific parts of the world, including northern Italy, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas-with-implications-for-returning-travellers-or-visitors-arriving-in-the-uk
There are steps we can all take to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like coronavirus.
The main principal is to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’: cover any cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin.
You should also:
wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
avoid close contact with people who are unwell
routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with your usual cleaning products (following product instructions.)
For regular and official coronavirus updates, advice and information you can visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public
Thank you for your ongoing support and I will of course provide you with updates should the situation change.
