COVID-19
Reporting COVID-19 related Absence
Please report Covid-19 related absences in the usual way, either by telephoning the school office on 0208 390 9544 or emailing admin@limetree.rbksch.org. Information regarding the date of onset of symptoms and/or the date of a positive test is required in order for us to code absence appropriately.
Coronavirus remains a serious health risk. You should stay cautious to help protect yourself and others.
Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer
Get tested and self-isolate if required
If you haven’t already, get vaccinated - translated information on vaccines here
As of the 27th January the Government has now stated that England can return to Plan A. For full information click here
Current Government guidance re testing:
COVID-19 infection rates are very high and the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly. It is important that we all take steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 infection in the community to save lives and protect the NHS.
If you have no symptoms:
get regular rapid lateral flow tests (link includes step-by-step guides including easy read, large print and translations in Polish, Chinese, Punjabi, Romanian, Arabic, Gujarati, Persian, Urdu, Slovakian, Turkish, Welsh, Somalian, Bengali, Hindi, Dari and Pashto )
Rapid lateral flow tests are most useful at identifying COVID-19 in people without any symptoms. The tests are over 80% effective at finding people who are most infectious and most likely to transmit the virus to others.
If you have Covid 19 symptoms:
If you have COVID-19 symptoms (a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; and/or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste) you should stay at home and self-isolate immediately. You should arrange to have a PCR test as soon as possible. If this PCR test result is positive, you must continue to self-isolate.If someone with symptoms has already taken an LFD test for any reason and the result is positive, they do not need to take a follow-up PCR test.
Self isolation timelines have changed:
The self-isolation advice for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed. It is now possible to end self-isolation after 6 days, following 2 negative lateral flow tests taken 24 hours apart on days 5 and 6 in the morning, providing you do not have a temperature. The first lateral flow test should not be taken before the fifth day. This also applies to children. If the lateral flow tests remain positive then you should continue to isolate for the full ten days.
If you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 you are at significantly higher risk of becoming infected yourself.
Important
Help from NHS 111:
Get help from NHS 111 if you're worried about your child or not sure what to do.
For children aged 5 or over – get help from NHS 111 online.
For children under 5 – call 111.
Children and babies will still get illnesses that can make them very unwell quickly. It's important to get medical help if you need it.
Urgent advice:
Call 111 or your GP surgery if your child:
is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C or higher, or you think they have a fever
is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39C or higher, or you think they have a fever
has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature (fever)
has a high temperature that's lasted for 5 days or more
does not want to eat, or is not their usual self and you're worried
has a high temperature that does not come down with paracetamol
is dehydrated – for example, nappies are not very wet, sunken eyes, and no tears when they're crying
Immediate action required:
Call 999 if your child:
has a stiff neck
has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it (use the "glass test" from Meningitis Now)
is bothered by light
has a seizure or fit for the first time (they cannot stop shaking)
has unusually cold hands and feet
has pale, blotchy, blue or grey skin
has a weak, high-pitched cry that's not like their usual cry
is drowsy and hard to wake
is extremely agitated (does not stop crying) or is confused
finds it hard to breathe and sucks their stomach in under their ribs
has a soft spot on their head that curves outwards
is not responding like they usually do, or not interested in feeding or usual activities