Notifying school of a positive Covid-19 case

We required the following key information from parents/carers when notifying school of a positive Covid-19 test: • the date symptoms started • the date the test was taken • the date the result was received • the names of ‘close contacts’ of the student during social times at school and any students they have spent time with as close contacts after school • the number of the bus if the student caught a bus to/from school.

A close contact is: • a person who has had face to face contact within one metre of the individual testing

positive

• contact within one metre for one minute or longer without face to face contact • someone who has been within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes • a person who has travelled in a small vehicle with the individual testing positive, or near them on a large vehicle or plane.

School then checks lesson seating plans to work out how many close contacts there are from lessons, identifying any students who have sat within 2m of the individual testing positive in any lessons during their contagious time prior to developing symptoms. Individual classrooms are then checked manually to see where the desks are and how much room there is.

Once this information is obtained school contacts Public Health England school helpline who take the details. If there is only one case in a year group and if school are confident we have identified all close contacts we only need to ask those students to stay off school and to self-isolate for 10 days. School informs the Local Education Authority and the school nursing team.

If there is more than one case in a year group, or there is uncertainty around close contacts, then school receives a call back from East Midlands Public Health. They go through all of the information, contact parents/carers where there are positive cases and review the school’s risk assessment. East Midlands Public Health then give school advice on what steps to take next.

Important points: • It is really important that parents/carers keep children in their home if they test positive or are asked to self-isolate. • It is key that parents/carers know where their children are and who they are with so close contacts can easily be traced. • Unless there is a really urgent situation (such as urgent first aid) staff need to keep 2m away from students and other staff so they are not classed as close contacts. • It is key to understand that if you are a close contact and take a test, even if the result is negative, you have to self-isolate for the full 10 days.

Public Health provide school with a template latter to send home to all parents/carers and a different letter for parents/carers of close contacts. We take on board all advice that Public Health give us.