Dear Parents/Carers
Following the outbreak of Coronavirus the Government continue to provide updated information to schools and education settings.
The government is closely monitoring the spread of the Coronavirus and is taking action at home and abroad.
Public Health England and the Foreign Office continue to issue advice for anyone travelling to specific areas.
Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
Public Health England blog: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/
The latest information and advice can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Advice for Parents/Guardians
You should not be unduly worried about the possibility of your children catching the Coronavirus.
There is no reason why your children should not continue to attend their early years, school or further education setting as normal.
What action can you take?
A UK wide campaign has been launched to provide clear advice on how to slow the spread of Coronavirus.
Please help to support the campaign which promotes basic hygiene practices.
As always, if you have symptoms of a cold or flu, then there are measures you
can take to stop germs:
sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
In particular we would like to make parents aware of information regarding Returning Travellers, including those who may have travelled to Italy over the half term break:
Based on the scientific advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) the UK Chief Medical Officers are advising anyone who has travelled to the UK from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and is experiencing cough or fever or shortness of breath, to stay indoors and call NHS 111, even if symptoms are mild.
There is enhanced monitoring of direct flights from these areas. Passengers will be told how to report any symptoms they develop during the flight, at the time of arrival, or after leaving the airport.
These areas have been identified because of the volume of air travel from affected areas, understanding of other travel routes and number of reported cases. This list will be kept under review.
If you have returned from these specific areas since 19 February, you should call NHS111 and stay indoors and avoid contact with other people even if you do not have symptoms:
If you have returned from these areas since 19 February and develop symptoms, however mild, you should stay indoors at home and avoid contact with other people immediately and call NHS111. You do not need to follow this advice if you have no symptoms.
You will be aware that this is a rapidly changing situation and we would advise concerned parents to keep updated by checking the website above or by referring to the national Press.
Specific coronavirus advice – Italy
In addition to existing Public Health England guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public) regarding travel from areas affected by coronavirus, the following should be noted in relation to Italy.
If in the last 14 days you have travelled from the following areas in Northern Italy:
Lombardi region, which includes:
The following location in the Veneto region
You should immediately:
Please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus.
If you have returned from other areas of Northern Italy (defined by a line above, and not including, Pisa, Florence and Rimini) since 19 February and develop symptoms of the virus
You should immediately:
Please note: you do not need to follow this advice if you have no symptoms.
Thank you