Confirmed Covid-19 Case in School
Dear Parent or Carer,
We have been notified of a confirmed case of COVID-19 within our school community, your child has not been identified as a close contact. This letter is to give you general information only, you do not need to take any action unless your child develops symptoms.
General information
In line with the national guidance, children aged under 18 years are no longer required to self-isolate if they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Your child and other members of your household can continue normal activities provided your child does not develop symptoms.
People who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive with COVID-19 are advised to get a PCR test, whether or not they have symptoms. If this test is positive, they must isolate for 10 days.
Please note:
- Children who are aged under 5 years old who are identified as close contacts will only be advised to take a PCR test if the positive case is in their own household.
- People should not need to be re-tested via an LFD test or PCR test within 90 days of a previous confirmed positive test, unless new symptoms develop, in which case they should book a PCR.
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID-19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must isolate and you should arrange a test for your child via https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested or by calling 119.
- If the test result is positive, your child will be required to self-isolate for a period of 10 days from the day that their symptoms started. Please inform us if your child has a positive test result.
- If your child’s test result is negative, they can continue with their normal activities if they are well enough to do so.
Please visit the link to Public Health England’s guidance for households with possible Covid-19 infections:
In Salford
- We are still advising immediate isolation to anyone who is suffering three classical symptoms, namely: new continuous cough; a high temperature (fever); or a loss of or change in normal sense of taste or smell, or have a positive test result
- Children who are unwell with any of the symptoms below are not expected to isolate immediately but we would advise that they go for a test to rule out COVID-19.
Non-classical symptoms include:
- Vomiting/nausea/off your food
- Diarrhoea
- Sleeping more than usual/extreme tiredness
- Listless/restless/agitated
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling cold
- Headache
- Severe body aches
- Sore throat
- Congested or runny nose
- Skin rash
- Complaining of anything that is not feeling themselves
- To book a test please visit gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test and, when prompted, click the box “I’ve been told to get a test by my nursery, work or place of education”
Test and Trace Support Payments
If a person is asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace and is on a low income, unable to work from home and will lose income as a result, they may be entitled to a payment of £500 from their local authority under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. This now applies to parents/ carers who cannot work from home and will lose income by self-isolating or staying at home to care for the child.
Further details are available via: https://www.salford.gov.uk/benefits/test-and-trace-support-payments/my-child-is-having-to-isolate/
Please remember, although COVID-19 is circulating in the community, usual childhood illnesses are too; and it is important that these are not missed. Please contact your GP or NHS111 if you are worried; or call 999 if seriously unwell.
If you have any questions or concerns please refer to the government website, or call The Spirit of Salford Helpline on 0800 952 1000 Further information is included in the information sheet below.
Best wishes
Mark Foster
Headteacher
Information sheet
If you think that someone in your household has come in contact with a confirmed case or you need help or advice about self-isolation, please call the Spirit of Salford helpline on 0800 952 1000.
Public Health Advice on symptoms
If anyone in your household becomes unwell with one of the symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) please isolate them immediately and book a test by ringing 119 or go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/
Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following:
A new continuous cough
A high temperature (fever)
A loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
Any one of the above symptoms gives reason for high level of suspicion for COVID-19.
Information about COVID-19 symptoms and management of the virus can be found here, www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- wash your hands as soon as you get home
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
Further Information
Further information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
