COVID update

COVID update

Changes to isolation guidelines for people testing positive

From Friday 9 September, all staff, students and visitors who have tested positive to COVID-19 must isolate for at least 5 days from the date they test positive.

  • On Days 6 and 7, the person may return to school if they are:
    • Completely symptom-free AND
    • Return a negative RAHT test before attending school both days AND
    • Wear a mask indoors when attending school (if 12 years and older).
  • If symptoms remain after Day 5, the person is not able to return to school and must continue to self-isolate until symptoms have gone.

Staff and students will still not be permitted to participate in overnight excursions and camps until after isolating for at least 7 days from the date they tested positive. Students and staff may participate from Day 8 if they are symptom-free.

Masks

Masks continue to be mandatory:

  • On buses, trains and public transport: this applies to all staff and to students aged 12 years and older. It applies when travelling to and from school, and during school excursions, by public transport or by chartered transport services.
  • Indoors for staff and high school students returning to school as household contacts for a week (5 school days) and is recommended for primary school students in the same situation.
  • Indoors for students and staff who have recovered from COVID-19, completed their 5-day isolation period and are no longer showing symptoms for an additional 2 days.

Masks no longer need to be worn on aircraft in NSW. However, they must still be worn in some circumstances, such as when travelling to more remote communities.

Household contacts

There have been no changes to these guidelines, so students and staff who are identified as household contacts can attend school if:

  • They have absolutely NO symptoms and feel well
  • Parents/carers notify the school beforehand that a student is intending to return under this provision, by emailing absences
  • They conduct a daily RAHT and return a negative result each morning before attending school for a week (5 school days).
  • Staff and students who are household contacts must wear a mask indoors, except when eating or exercising. It is recommended that primary students follow these same guidelines wherever possible.

Household contacts will still not be permitted to participate in overnight excursions and camps.

Staff and students who have had COVID-19 in the last 4 weeks do not have to comply with these guidelines for household contacts and are not required to self-isolate unless they develop new COVID-19 symptoms.

If your daughter is unwell

Staff and students cannot attend school if they are showing any symptoms of flu or COVID-19.

If symptoms occur at any time, your daughter should not attend school and should undertake a rapid antigen test. Even if she tests negative on a RAHT, please keep her home for 24 hours and then test again. Even if multiple COVID tests (RAHT and/or PCR) come back negative for COVID-19, students should not return to school until all symptoms of the illness have gone.

Health advice is that students who are sick should always stay home to rest and recover and avoid putting others at risk of getting sick. Please help us keep everyone in our community as safe and well as possible this year!

Holly Gyton
Deputy Head of School