26 Jan 2020
I understand there is significant concern amongst parents and the community regarding the spread of the Coronavirus. I would like to assure you the NSW Department of Education is closely monitoring the situation. I have been in contact with our Director of Educational Leadership in recent days and below is the information which has been given to me.
'As per usual guidance, staff and children who are unwell with respiratory illness should remain at home until symptoms resolve. Schools should continue to follow the Infection Control guidelines.
In accordance with national public health guidelines, only those who are close contacts (eg: live in the same household) of confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus infection should be excluded from school for a period of 14 days since last contact with the case.
NSW Health has processes in place to identify any close contacts of cases confirmed in Australia. Advice about not attending school would be provided to these close contacts.
Children and staff who have recently returned from overseas and are well, and are not close contacts of a confirmed case, are able to attend school as normal.'
NSW Health has information available on its website.
Factsheet: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/coronavirus.aspx
FAQs: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/coronavirus-faqs.aspx
Currently there is no change to the start date for Term One, that is 29th January for Years One - Six and 30th January for Kindergarten. Teachers will continue to be vigilant in their supervision of students who show signs of being unwell, and will reinforce the infection control processes.
I will provide you with any further updates from the NSW Department of Education as I receive them.
Regards
Denise Minifie