Dear parents,
Our school has been advised of additional reported cases of COVID-19 within our school community.
I would like to reassure you that we took immediate action as soon as we became aware of the situation and sought advice from the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Health. The Department of Education and Training has advised us that no action is required at this stage due to the length of time since the person who was confirmed to have COVID-19 was onsite. Our school has also been undertaking its daily cleaning including sanitising all high-touch points throughout the school. This has been endorsed by the Department of Health.
We have contacted you if you or your child has been identified as a primary close contact (PCC). Further information regarding close contacts can be found at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/what-do-if-you-are-close-contact#i-think-i-am-a-close-contact---what-should-i-do
Information for students and staff identified as Primary close contacts (PCCs).
If you are contacted and advised that your child is a potential primary close contact, it is advised that your child get a COVID test and limit their movements outside of the home.
This means that, until you hear further from me or the Department of Health or a Local Public Health Unit (DH/LPHU), you child is advised to only leave home for brief periods for necessary activities, such as:
- exercise
- caregiving to family members when no alternative is available
- necessary medical appointments where no alternative is available (such as telehealth)
- shopping for necessary items, only where no one else in the household can perform this task and no alternative is available (such as delivery).
The Department of Health or a Local Public Health Unit will then contact primary close contacts directly to interview them and advise if there are any changes to their primary close contact status. These calls or text messages can come from private or unknown numbers. Please answer these calls or follow text message advice if you receive a call or text message. If confirmed, Department of Health or a Local Public Health Unit will send an SMS to the PCCs advising them of their quarantine, testing and release dates (this may take some days).
Primary close contacts will no longer receive a clearance text message from the Department of Health to confirm their release from quarantine. For those who are undergoing 7 days of isolation, the return of a negative day 6 test is sufficient for release. For those who are undergoing 14 days of isolation, the return of a negative day 13 test is sufficient for release.
The rest of your family does not need to stay at home at this stage.
If you or anyone in your family develops even the mildest of symptoms, please get tested.
If you have questions about what this means for our school, please call the Department of Education and Training COVID-19 hotline on 1800 338 663, available 8:30am to 5pm Monday through Friday, and 10am to 3pm Saturday and Sunday.
If you are concerned you have COVID-19 you can call the Department of Health COVID-19 hotline on 1800 675 398, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For school information in languages other than English, call TIS National on 131 450. Please ask them to call the DET COVID-19 hotline on 1800 338 663 and they will help interpret. For health advice in languages other than English, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/translated-information-about-coronavirus-covid-19.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging time.
Kind regards
Barbara O'Brien
Executive Principal
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