Good morning,
I am writing to let you know we are aware of a small number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the school community, and your child may have had contact with them during their infectious period.
Since 24th February 2022, close contacts are no longer required to undertake daily LFD testing for 7 days (or isolate if an unvaccinated adult). Instead, you are advised to carefully follow the general guidance Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) to limit the risk of further spread of COVID-19. This includes:
Getting vaccinated (as appropriate according to age)
Letting fresh air in if you meet with others indoors, or meeting outside where possible
Continuing to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, especially where you come into contact with people you do not usually meet
Staying at home if you are unwell
Taking a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms, and staying at home and avoiding contact with other people if you test positive
Continuing to use lateral flow tests as a way to manage your personal risk and the risk to those around you. This may be particularly important
before visiting people who are at higher risk of severe illness if they get COVID-19
Washing your hands regularly and following advice to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’
There is additional guidance for contacts who live in the same household or who have stayed overnight in the same house as someone who has tested
positive with COVID-19: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts
Anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 should stay at home and take a PCR test (until 1st April 2022 you can continue to order PCR tests from https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test). The main symptoms of COVID-19 are a recent onset of any of the following:
a new continuous cough
a high temperature
a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
However, other commonly reported symptoms of recent variants include headache, sore throat, tiredness, and cold-like symptoms, so please be aware of these as well and stay at home and seek further testing if you are in any doubt.
A list of local testing facilities and opening times is available here: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-testing
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Judi Jackson
Headteacher
