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What is the coronavirus?

A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China in January 2020.

The incubation period of COVID-19 is between 2 and 14 days. This means that if a person remains well 14 days after contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus, it is unlikely that they have been infected.

The following symptoms may develop in the 14 days after exposure to someone who has COVID-19 infection:

• cough
• difficulty in breathing
• fever

Generally, these infections can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. There is no evidence that children are more affected than other age groups – very few cases have been reported in children.

Guidance for our children

All children have been taught how to wash their hands effectively and of the importance of doing this regularly, particularly before cooking and eating, after using the toilet and when entering school in the morning and after playtimes. Posters to remind children of how to wash their hands effectively have been put up in all the children's toilets around the school. As always, hand sanitiser gel is also available for children to use should they wish to.

We make sure children use tissues for coughs and sneezes. We are, as always, teaching them 'catch it, bin it, kill it' if they cough or sneeze.

Teachers are having age-appropriate conversations with their classes about the coronavirus as we are aware that our children have questions and worries about what is going on and want to address these in a safe and open environment.

If your child seems worried about COVID-19, there are some useful resources at

https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/anxiety-stress-panic/worries-about-the-world/ 

What to do if you or your child has symptoms:

People should self-isolate if they have either:

• a high temperature
• a new continuous cough

If you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill

It is likely that people living within a household will infect each other or be infected already. Staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community

For anyone in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14-day isolation period. 

If you can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period

If you cannot move vulnerable people out of your home, stay away from them as much as possible

If you have coronavirus symptoms:

• • do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
  • you do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home
  • testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home
• Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water, or use hand sanitiser

• These actions will help to prevent the spread of the virus and protect the most vulnerable members of our community.

• Please inform the school reception, either by phone or email, if your family is self-isolating and follow the NHS guidance https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

• School absence due to self-isolation will not be classified as unauthorised. If you decide to keep your child off, please inform the school of their absence via the usual means and explain why they are self-isolating and what medical advice you have been given if any.