Covid-19 – Guidance on Dealing with a Suspected Case (September 2020)
Staff are aware of the symptoms of COVID-19. The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature).
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual).
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
You must Self-isolate if you have been in close contact with someone who develops coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or someone who tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
If anyone in the school becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, or has a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia), they are sent home and advised to follow ‘stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection’, which sets out that they must self-isolate for at 10 days and should arrange to have a test to see if they have coronavirus (COVID-19).
- Other members of their household (including any siblings) should self-isolate for 14 days from when the symptomatic person first had symptoms.
- The school understands the NHS Test and Trace process and are aware of how to contact their local Public Health England health protection team.
- The school have advised staff and parents/carers that they will need to be ready and willing to Book a test if they are displaying symptoms.
- Staff and pupils DO NOT come into the school if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and WILL BE sent home to self-isolate if they develop them in school.
- The school are aware that all children can be tested, including children under 5, but children aged 11 and under will need to be helped by their parents/carers if using a home testing kit. You can arrange a test through: https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or you can call 119 and book over the phone.
Where a possible case has been identified in school the following procedures must be followed:
- If a pupil/member of staff are awaiting collection, they should be moved, if possible, to a room where they can be isolated behind a closed door, depending on the age and needs of the pupil, with appropriate adult supervision if required. Windows are opened for ventilation.
- Where it is not possible to isolate staff/pupils, they are to be moved to an area which is at least 2 metres away from pupils and staff.
- Where staff /pupils need to use toilet facilities a separate toilet is to be accessed if possible.
- Following access to the toilet area, the area is cleaned and disinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.
- Staff who have helped a pupil/staff member presenting COVID-19 symptoms and any pupils who have been in close contact with them DO NOT need to go home to self-isolate.
- Parents/carers and staff to inform school immediately of the results of a test.
