Dear Parent/Carer

NHS Lothian has contacted all headteachers providing advice on the Coronavirus. NHS Lothian has provided public health advice from the UK Government and the NHS. The links are to this advice are

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov

NHS Lothian Public Health state that the risk to people in this country is low.

Please read the following information provided by NHS Lothian to reduce the spread of respiratory illness.

The main symptoms being reported include:

– Fever

– Cough

– Sore throat

– Muscle aches

– Sore tummy

– Cold/Flu like symptoms

– headache

These  symptoms  are  consistent  with  respiratory  viral  illnesses  such  as  the  common  cold, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza. Respiratory  viruses  are  spread  by  breathing  in  droplets  produced  when  a  person  coughs  or  sneezes.  You  can  also  catch  the  virus  by  touching  the  surfaces  that  the droplets  have  landed  on if you pick up the virus on your hands and then touch your nose or mouth.

Key advice for parents and carers in the home the risk of catching or spreading flu/cold like illness can be reduced by:

• Regular hand washing with liquid soap and running water
• Covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
• Using a disposable paper tissue, disposed of immediately after use.
• You can teach your child to sneeze into the ‘crook’ of their arm rather than their hands, if they don’t have a tissue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQINuSTP1jI
• Good general cleaning of surface that everyone touches often e.g. TV remote, light switches, door handles, toilet flushes and tap heads.
• https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/common-cold
• https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/flu

 Children should not return to school until completely well and 48 hours after symptoms have ceased.