Dear
parent/carer,
You’re
likely aware of the outbreak of novel coronavirus in China and the subsequent
confirmed cases in the UK. At Mead, we take the health and safety of our pupils and staff very
seriously, so we’re sharing guidance
from Public Health England on steps you should be taking.
There’s
currently no cause for concern at the school, but we’ll keep you informed about
any developments and ensure we’re keeping the school clean to prevent the
spread of any virus.
Prevent the spread of infection
Make
sure you and your children follow these general principles to prevent spreading
any respiratory virus:
Wash your hands often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds,
or an alcohol-based sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands Avoid close contact with people who are sick If you feel unwell, stay at home and don’t attend work or school Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a
bin Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the
home If you’re worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111 – don’t
go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment
If you or your children have returned
from anywhere in Hubei province in past 14 days
If
you or your children are currently well:
Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with
flu viruses Call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the area Your other family members don’t need to take any precautions or make
any changes to their own activities
If
you become unwell:
Please call NHS 111 immediately in order for you to be assessed by
an appropriate specialist in hospital, as quickly as possible Follow the home
isolation advice sheet
If you or your children have returned from
a specified country in last 14 days
The
specified countries are:
China (other than Hubei) Hong Kong Japan Macau Malaysia Singapore South Korea Taiwan Thailand
If
you or your children are well:
You don’t need to avoid contact with other people Your other family members don’t need to take any precautions or make
any changes to their own activities
If
you become unwell:
Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with
other flu viruses Follow the home
isolation advice sheet Call NHS 111 immediately in order for you to be assessed by an appropriate
specialist in hospital, as quickly as possible
Symptoms to look out for
If
you’ve returned from the specified countries or Hubei, look out for the
following symptoms:
Cough Difficulty in breathing Fever (a temperature of 38 degrees C or higher)
If
you have any of these symptoms:
If it’s an emergency, call 999 and tell them which country you have
returned from in the past 14 days If you’re unwell, but it’s not an emergency, call NHS 111 and tell
them which country you have returned from in the past 14 days
While
you wait for further advice:
Avoid contact with others Stay at home – don’t go to work or school Don’t travel while sick Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your
hands) when coughing or sneezing, throwing tissues in the bin Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
(or an alcohol-based sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available)
If
you or your child have any further concerns or questions, please do not
hesitate to contact the
school office on 01708343616
Yours
sincerely
Mrs
L. Smith
Headteacher
