Cherry Oak School
Working Together for Success
Cherry Oak School
Working Together for Success
Coronavirus Update 13 March 2020
As we get updated information about CoronaVirus, I will share it with you via this website. Please register for the App (information was sent home in school bags on 12.03.2020) so that we can keep you updated when information on the website changes.
Latest advice from DfE is that if pupils are absent because of fears around their vulnerability to Coronavirus, even though they do not have symptoms, the attendance register will be marked as "absent due to exceptional circumstances".
The new advice is that anyone who has a high temperature (above 37.8 degrees and a NEW continuous cough, should self-isolate for 7 days. There is no need to call NHS 111 unless symptoms worsen or you are no better after 7 days. This advice applies to everyone: children, families, staff and members of the public.
If your child develops these symptoms, please keep them at home for 7 days and advise the school. If your child develops these symptoms at school, you will be asked to collect them and keep them at home for 7 days.
There have been NO confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the school.
We will inform families if there is a case of confirmed COVID-19.
The most highly recommended strategy continues to be rigorous handwashing. (Please see the end of this news item.)
Julie Fardell - Executive Head Teacher
Government Advice as of 13 March 2020
Yesterday, the Government announced that we are moving from the Contain phase of the coronavirus action plan and into the Delay phase, in response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Full details of each stage in the government action plan can be found here:
To support the delay of the spread of the virus, the Department for Health and Social Care has asked anyone who shows certain symptoms to stay at home for 7 days, regardless of whether they have travelled to affected areas. This means people should stay at home and avoid all but essential contact with others for 7 days from the point of displaying mild symptoms, to slow the spread of infection.
The symptoms are:
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You do not need to call NHS 111 to stay at home. If your symptoms worsen during your stay at home period or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
Current advice remains in place: no education or children’s social care setting should close in response to a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case unless advised to do so by Public Health England.
The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the impact of closing schools on both children’s education and on the workforce will be substantial, but the benefit to public health may not be. Decisions on future advice to schools will be taken based on the latest and best scientific evidence, which at this stage suggests children are a lower risk group.
Handwashing advice
The most important thing individuals can do to protect themselves is to wash their hands more often, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water. Public Health England recommends that in addition to handwashing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, everyone should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport.
Watch this short NHS film for guidance: