We have been in constant contact with Catholic Education regarding the impact the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) may have on students, staff and our school in the future. The school, in support with the Catholic Education Office, has developed a School Coronavirus Operational Plan that will be implemented if required.  This plan will support us in operational matters related to managing an outbreak of the Coronavirus, if it eventuates in our school community. In the meantime, we have initiated the following:

• We have contacted our cleaners and have committed to financing extra cleaning of high-traffic areas such as door handles, bench tops and daily thorough cleaning of our sick bay etc;
• We will segregate our ‘sick bay’ to have those with grazed knees and bumps on the head in our waiting room and leave our sick bay for those with coughs/colds etc;
• We will check and fill our soap dispensers in all toilets every day. If a child notices that these are empty please ask them to notify the office;
• If any child is displaying flu type symptoms, we will be calling parents and asking for children to be collected immediately;
• We will be instructing and teaching students about thorough hygiene - washing hands etc;
• We will be sending home any staff who are unwell.

Good hygiene remains the best protective measure against the spread of the virus. Please spend time with your child and show them (demonstrate) the importance of the following:

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or hand sanitiser (for 20 seconds).
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue (dispose tissue into the bin) and then wash hands thoroughly.
• Avoid close contact with anyone displaying cold or flu-like symptoms and stay away from others if you are unwell.

As the impact of the virus on children and healthy adults can be quite mild there may be a tendency to continue working and attending school and hence increase the risk of infecting others. This is in contrast to SARS and Swine, where most people were quite unwell if infected. The advice from ACT Health is that schools should be very strong on sending home staff and students who have the slightest sign of illness. This is not a time for soldiering on with coughs and colds. Please do not send your child to school if they are unwell. 

Travel

The Australian Government considers the following countries to be at higher risk for COVID-19:

• Mainland China
• Iran
• Italy
• Republic of Korea

There are travel restrictions for travellers from mainland China, Iran, Republic of Korea and Italy.

If you are returning from mainland China or Iran you should isolate yourself for 14 days after leaving mainland China or Iran.

If you are travelling from the Republic of Korea, on or after 5 March, you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the time you left the Republic of Korea.

If you have left or transited through Italy on or after 11 March you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the time you left Italy.

Please inform our principal, Mrs Kate Markcrow if you (or a family member) have travelled through these countries or have been infected by COVID-19 in the future.