With updated national guidance announced late this afternoon, there have been important changes that come into play with immediate effect. In the short term, I have included the most important points in the text below, but this is just an extract lifted directly from the most up-to-date government guidance, which can be viewed in full here
Extract from text about self isolation
Stay at home advice
This advice is for:
- people with symptoms that may be caused by coronavirus (COVID-19), and who do not require hospital treatment, who must remain at home until they are well
- those living in households with someone who shows symptoms that may be caused by coronavirus (COVID-19)
Why staying at home is very important
It is very important that individuals with symptoms that may be due to coronavirus (COVID-19) and their household members stay at home. Staying at home will help control the spread of the virus to friends and others.
Those with symptoms who live alone should remain at home for 7 days after the onset of their symptoms (see “ending self-isolation” below). This will reduce the risk of you infecting others.
If you live with others, then the person who has symptoms of COVID-19 (new continuous cough and/or fever/high temperature) should stay at home for 7 days from the start of their symptoms and all other household members who don’t develop any symptoms should stay at home for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day illness began in the first person to become ill. If others in the household develop symptoms within the 14 days, then they will need to stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms began, even if this takes them over the 14 day isolation period.
It is likely that people living within a household will infect each other or may already be infected. Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community. Staying at home may be difficult and frustrating, but there are things that you can do to help make it easier.
What to consider
If you have to stay at home:
- plan ahead and ask others for help to make sure you can stay at home successfully
- ask your employer, friends and family to help you get the things you need to stay at home
- stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible
- sleep alone if possible
- wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds regularly
- stay away from the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible
- consider whether older people and those with underlying health conditions can stay in another house while you need to stay at home
- make sure that you keep in touch with friends and family over the phone or through social media
What we mean by staying at home (self-isolating)
If you have to stay at home for you shouldn’t go to work, school or public areas.
Avoid close contact with others by:
- avoiding having visitors
- not using taxis or public transport
- asking a friend or neighbour to get your shopping or arranging for a delivery to be left at your door
- not sharing towels, clothes, toothbrushes or razors
Summary – What does this mean for Stewarton Academy?
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, this is just an extract from the full guidance, which you can view from the link at the top of the post. The most essential aspects in the short term are:
- Pupils and staff who entered self-isolation today or previously should self-isolate for 7 days
- Family members living in the same household as pupils or staff who entered self-isolation today or previously must isolate for 14 days from today or from the date the first member of the household self-isolated
- If during that 14-day period, you or anyone in the household display symptoms of the virus, they should self-isolate for 7 days from the date the symptoms present before ending self-isolation.
I understand that this is a lot to take in and want to reassure you that we are at the other end of the phone to re-assure you or clarify anything above. However, could I please ask that you observe the guidelines fully as it will have a substantial impact in slowing down the transmission of the virus in our school and wider community. Your support has been nothing short of incredible and I hugely value it at this challenging time for our school and local community.
Kind regards, and please take care.
Ryan Miller
Head Teacher
