IMPORTANT – Covid-19 Letter to close contacts
13 November 2020
For attention of parents of year 10 students directly contacted by the school on the 13th November
Advice for Child to Self-Isolate for 14 Days
Dear parent or carer,
We have been made aware that we have a confirmed positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) at Ipswich Academy.
We have followed the national guidance and have identified that your child has been in close contact with the affected child. In line with the national guidance your child must stay at home and self-isolate until Thursday 26th November. They will then return to school on the 27th November.
If your child is well at the end of the 14 days period of self-isolation, then they can return to usual activities.
Other members of your household can continue normal activities provided your child does not develop symptoms within the 14 day self-isolation period.
Please see the link to: Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person
Work set for students during the 14 day isolation period
As previously communicated with you, we will be using Google Classrooms to support students with their learning during their isolation period. Students have had a lesson this week familiarising them with the platform. From Monday 16th November work will be uploaded onto Google Classrooms for students to complete by all of their subject teachers. Students will also be emailed on their @ipswichacademy email account instructions on Monday morning. All students who informed us that they do not have a laptop at home have been loaned a laptop today, please ensure these are returned on the 27th November. If your child needs to loan a laptop, please contact the school.
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they 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 .
People who do not have symptoms should not request a test unless this has been specifically requested by Public Health England or the local authority.
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 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
Please see the link to the PHE ‘Stay at Home’ Guidance:
Symptoms of COVID 19
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:
- new continuous cough and/or
- high temperature and/or
- a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)
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 at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ 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 at
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
Once again, thank you for your support and swift action today.
Yours sincerely
Abbie Thorrington
Principal