Covid-19

Individuals will need a test if they have any of the following:

• A high temperature: any new high temperature where the person feels hot to touch on their chest or back (you do not need to measure the temperature);
• A new continuous cough: coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours;
• A loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste: a noticeable loss of smell or taste or things smell and taste different to normal.

Individuals do not need a test if they have a runny nose, are sneezing or feeling unwell but do not have a temperature, cough or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste because these are not normally symptoms of coronavirus.

If you think that you or a family member has coronavirus symptoms, self-isolate immediately. 

The next thing to do is to seek to book a test. If you have internet access, go to www.nhs.uk/coronavirus to book a mail-order or drive-through test.

Testing is run by national Government, not the County Council. We continue to work with Government to improve testing access and availability and continue to work with them to resolve the capacity problems in their system, but the County Council is not in charge of testing. In recent days, this service has been very busy, and some people have had problems booking a test due to capacity issues in the laboratories that process the results. New testing slots are added hourly, so please keep checking, and self-isolate while you do so. 

If you cannot access the internet to get a test, call 119 instead. Ringing 119 will not help you to get a test if there are no tests available on the national website and 119 is not an advice line. 

Hospital Emergency Departments (A&E) will not test you or your child(ren) for coronavirus. Hospitals have a limited number of tests available which must be prioritised for people who are waiting for planned procedures or who are waiting to be discharged from hospital. If you don’t have COVID symptoms, please do not book yourself a test. Doing so only makes it harder for people with symptoms to get the test they need. 

If your child is part of a school bubble but does NOT have symptoms they may be asked to self-isolate:

Self-isolation means you do not leave your home for fourteen days because you have or might have coronavirus (Covid-19). This is to help stop the virus spreading to other people. The reason for fourteen days is because it can take that long to show symptoms

Your child(ren) should not leave the house and cannot visit family, friends or attend any activities or parties, even if these are outdoors. They cannot go out to exercise, use public transport or taxis

Being sent home does not mean that your child(ren) has coronavirus and you should not book a test for your child(ren), unless they develop symptoms

Other members of your household will not be expected to self-isolate due to child(ren) being sent home in a school bubble unless the child develops symptoms, in which case the rules on testing and self-isolation apply above.

If your child(ren) develops symptoms while self-isolating at home, your entire household must self-isolate immediately and you should book a test for those with symptoms.

You should check the period of self-isolation which applies here https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-andtreatment/how-long-to-self-isolate/ 

I appreciate these rules can seem confusing, but they are designed by the Chief Medical Officer for England to help us prevent the spread of the virus. I have tried to set them out in ways that are as clear as possible.

Close contact means:

• direct close contacts - face to face contact with an infected individual for any length of time, within 1 metre, including being coughed on, a face to face conversation, or unprotected physical contact (skin-to-skin).
• proximity contacts - extended close contact (within 1 to 2 metres for more than 15 minutes) with an infected individual.
• travelling in a small vehicle, like a car, with an infected person.

Please try to avoid close contact with all other staff members and students so that in the event of a confirmed case you do not need to isolate.

Please ensure all seating plans are correct and in place as I will request these in the event of a confirmed case.