We pray that you are all well inshaAllah.

We have been made aware that a member of our school community has tested positive for COVID-19.

We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England.

Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

The small number of children who have been in close contact with the individual who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) have been identified and their parents have received notification that their child must stay at home for 14 days.

The school remains open and your child should continue to attend as normal if they remain well.

Additionally, there has been a change in guidance locally relating to coronavirus (COVID-19).

It still remains the case that staff and children should not attend school if they are unwell. This includes the following symptoms:

• A new continuous cough
• A high temperature
• A loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

If a member of the community has the above symptoms, they should have a test and not return until the result is known.

In line with new advice from Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Local Authority, it is now the case that if a person has the following symptoms, a test should be arranged:

• Headaches
• Aches and pains
• Feeling very tired for no good reason
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sometimes ‘tummy ache’ in children

They can attend school but only if they are well enough to do so and only need to self-isolate if the test comes back positive.

There are a number of testing sites across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent which can be booked online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus. You can use the option of “my council has asked me to book a test” if you have the other symptoms.

Full letters issued to parents:

EGA COVID-19 Direct Contact Letter 12.11.20
EGA COVID-19 General Letter 12.11.20
EGA COVID-19 Local guidance update 13.11.20

 

What to do if your child develop symptoms of COVID 19

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to school and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.

All other household members who remain well, must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

Household members should not go to work, school or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home. If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.

Household members staying at home for 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community.

If you are able, 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.

Please see Stay at home guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website here. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 online or by phoning 111.

 

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.

Do:

• 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 from the NHS here and on our website here.