Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update: Monday 3rd March

Dear Parents,

Since my update of last week, I wanted to bring you up to speed on where we are as a school on the evolving novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation:

1. The UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the UK from low to moderate. In light of this, we have now formally established an incident response group that continues to work hard on contingency planning to cover any eventuality.
2. The advice remains as it was last week with respect to travel; category 1 places (self-isolate even if asymptomatic); category 2 places (self-isolate if symptomatic).
3. We continue to monitor very closely the Public Health England, Department for Education, NHS, various independent school associations, and legal and medical advice.
4. There is an automatic update at 2.00pm each day on the Government website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public.
5. Please use the alcohol sanitiser that is on the front desk of reception should you enter the school.

If your child does show symptoms: a cough, a high temperature, shortness of breath and you have any concerns simply call NHS 111 and self-isolate, remembering that these symptoms do not necessarily mean they have the illness. The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu. As to an outline of how we respond:

1. If a child says they are not feeling well they will be sent to Matron as normal. (As we know, at this time of year there are plenty of sniffs and snuffles that have nothing to do with coronavirus.)
2. If we have a suspected case we will immediately isolate that individual, contact relevant parents and call NHS 111/999 (in an emergency) and Public Health England take over and advise us what to do.
3. We have in place all the protocols with respect to deep cleaning.

We are monitoring the situation very closely and should there be any changes I will continue to update you. Other than the cancellation of our trip to the IAPS Skiing to northern Italy, there are currently no changes to the school programme including classes, events, matches and concerts, albeit we have more stringent internal procedures in place to manage the current situation.

Yours sincerely

Peter Thacker

Headmaster