We have learned over the weekend that a member of staff within the school has tested positive for Covid-19. The teacher affected has not been in school since 9.20am on Wednesday 16 September when he was sent home to be tested due to him showing symptoms of a persistent cough. At this point he showed no other symptoms. His positive result came back on Saturday 19 September. We are pleased to report that the teacher is feeling ok and is recovering at home.
As per the new protocols released last week, we have spoken with an advisor from the DFE Covid helpline who advised us that any close contacts of the teacher from Monday 14 September and Tuesday 15 September should isolate for a period of 10 days. Their definition of a close contact is detailed below and further guidance can be found in the link below.
What is a close contact?
A ‘contact’ is a person who has been close to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 anytime from 2 days before the person was symptomatic up to 10 days from onset of symptoms (this is when they are infectious to others). For example, a contact can be:
- a person who has had face-to-face contact (within one metre), with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, including:
- being coughed on
- having a face-to-face conversation within one metre
- having skin-to-skin physical contact, or
- contact within one metre for one minute or longer without face-to-face contact
- a person who has been within 2 metres of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes
As with all teaching staff, the affected teacher teaches from the front of class and maintains a distance of at least 2m from all children. We have spoken to the teacher who confirms that he does not feel he has been in close contact with any staff or students; therefore, we do not feel that any students in the school are deemed to be close contacts and we are subsequently not advising any students that they should isolate as a result of the teacher’s positive result.
As always we appreciate your support and if you have any concerns at all about your child please contact their Achievement Leader or Assistant Achievement Leader.
Yours sincerely,
Mr S Huntington
Executive Principal