Contact Tracing-in the event of any COVID 19 Symptoms

I thought that it would be helpful to reiterate schools’ role over the next few days, and hopefully clarify any queries that you have over this matter.

As was the case at Christmas, schools will continue to support the test, track and trace system.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE ONLY APPLIES TO PUPILS WHO ATTENDED THE SCHOOL ON THURSDAY 11th AND FRIDAY 12th FEBRUARY.

In the event of children who are not currently attending school, or who attended prior to the above dates, displaying symptoms, please follow the advice in the document which can be found by following the link underneath this article.

If a pupil at the school displays any of the main three symptoms of COVID 19, within  48hrs of finishing school on Friday (by 4PM on Sunday 14 February) please contact the school email address – office@capel-le-ferne.kent.sch.uk

• a loss or change of taste or smell
• a raised temperature
• a new persistent cough,

you should then immediately arrange for your child to have a COVID test (and any other family member who is displaying symptoms).

If a pupil who had shown symptoms before 4PM on Sunday 14 February receives test results on or before Thursday 18 February , please use the above email address to let us know whether the test result is positive or negative. If the test is positive, we will contact DfE/Public Health England, who will advise us whether we need to contact parents of pupils who that pupil may have had close contact with while still at school. In that instance, other pupils may be asked to self-isolate.

Please note that Thursday18 February is the last date that schools should be contacted with test results for contact tracing purposes (before the start of the new term). The office email will not be routinely monitored after that point until Monday 22 February.

If a member of your household develops symptoms after 4PM on Sunday 14 February, you should arrange a test and follow the government guidance - please see link below. The school does not need to be contacted in that instance.

In the case of symptoms that have emerged after 14 February, if your child is due to attend critical worker provision at school from February 22nd, and a member of your household receives a positive test result after Thursday 18 February and before the start of the new term, on Monday 22 February, please also follow the government guidance below. The school does not need to be informed in these circumstances until the start of the new term. However if your child is due to attend critical worker provision and is likely to miss the start of the new term because they will be in isolation after a positive test, or while awaiting test results, we would be grateful if you could email/phone us on Monday 22 February.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection