Dear Parents,
Please find below a document from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) which features the latest public health advice and might be useful to you at this time.
Please find below a document from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) which features the latest public health advice and might be useful to you at this time.
Dear Parents and Staff, 28 Sept 2020
Re: If we have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the school
We do not have any confirmed positive cases of Covid-19 in the school. However, it is only prudent that we consider what procedures are in place to deal with such a situation were it to arise, so that all of us are aware in advance of what happens in such an event.
Safety and Control Measures
The BoM, school leadership and staff are very conscious of the paramount need to keep all pupils, staff and visitors safe while in the school. The school is a controlled environment. There are control measures in place to combat the introduction or spread of COVID-19. These are based on:
The following steps are taken when a person (child or adult) in the school presents with suspected COVID-19 symptoms:
Public Health Intervention
The Public Health Department of the HSE is the agency responsible by law for dealing with positive cases of COVID-19:
GDPR legislation prevents the publication of personal data without consent
le meas,
Vincent Sheehy, Anne-Marie Downes
Cathaoirleach, An Bórd Bainistíochta Príomhoide
Re: If we have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the school
We do not have any confirmed positive cases of Covid-19 in the school. However, it is only prudent that we consider what procedures are in place to deal with such a situation were it to arise, so that all of us are aware in advance of what happens in such an event.
Safety and Control Measures
The BoM, school leadership and staff are very conscious of the paramount need to keep all pupils, staff and visitors safe while in the school. The school is a controlled environment. There are control measures in place to combat the introduction or spread of COVID-19. These are based on:
- Physical Distancing
- Hand Hygiene
- Respiratory and Hygiene Etiquette
- Mask Wearing, where necessary.
The following steps are taken when a person (child or adult) in the school presents with suspected COVID-19 symptoms:
- That person is moved to the isolated area prior to going home. In the case of children their parents will be asked to come to the school, take them home and contact their GP for a free telephone consultation
- If the GP recommends that the person (child or adult) go for a COVID-19 test, that person is now considered a query case for COVID-19 and all of his/her household members must restrict their movements until the results of the test come back
- In the case of a negative result (98% of cases), the GP will advise when the person should return to school – usually after 48 hours.
- In the case of a positive result (2% of cases), Public Health will, by law, be informed. This may take a matter of hours due to legal and volume of work issues. The risk has been removed from the school as the person who tested positive and his/her household are at home
- The person tested, or their parents, may well be informed before Public Health. In many cases a social media discussion ensues and anxiety levels are raised among the school community.
Public Health Intervention
The Public Health Department of the HSE is the agency responsible by law for dealing with positive cases of COVID-19:
- Once notified by the HSE testing regime, Public Health Doctors assume total control of the situation and will carry out a risk assessment. Based on questioning the person with the positive result, they will ascertain if they were within the school setting when they contracted the virus. If not, there may be no need to contact the school
- If the person was within the school setting when they contracted the virus, Public Health will contact the principal to carry out a Public Health Risk Assessment. This is a set of questions to see who might have been exposed to the virus and who needs to be excluded or tested. This risk assessment will be unique to each school
- The principal and BoM have no function in the risk assessment, other than to provide whatever information is required by the Public Health Medical Officer conducting the risk assessment
- The principal and BoM may be asked to assist the Medical Office by sending a message from them to the relevant families identified in the risk assessment. Public Health will not contact other members of the school community
- The principal and BoM are not permitted to inform members of the school community of the identity of the person or persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 for the following reasons:
GDPR legislation prevents the publication of personal data without consent
le meas,
Vincent Sheehy, Anne-Marie Downes
Cathaoirleach, An Bórd Bainistíochta Príomhoide
Dear Parent/Guardian 22 September 2020
I am writing to you to advise you of certain procedures that will apply if a pupil in our school tests positive for Covid-19. If that were to occur, the Public Health Department of the HSE will carry out a Public Health Risk Assessment and will decide on the appropriate actions to be taken. The school does not have a direct role in this decision-making process.
The Public Health Risk Assessment may indicate that contact tracing is necessary. To facilitate this, the school may be asked to furnish the names and contact details of pupils (and their parents/guardians) who are close contacts of a confirmed case. If this information is requested by the Public Health Department of the HSE, the school will process the information in compliance with data protection laws*. The information will be given in a secure manner, only to named individuals and only the information necessary for the contact tracing will be given. It is the HSE and not the school, who will carry out any necessary contact tracing.
Yours Sincerely,
Anne-Marie Downes
___________________________
Secretary, Board of Management
*Articles 6(1)(c) (processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation) and 9(2)(i) (processing is for public interest reasons in the area of public health) of the GDPR.
I am writing to you to advise you of certain procedures that will apply if a pupil in our school tests positive for Covid-19. If that were to occur, the Public Health Department of the HSE will carry out a Public Health Risk Assessment and will decide on the appropriate actions to be taken. The school does not have a direct role in this decision-making process.
The Public Health Risk Assessment may indicate that contact tracing is necessary. To facilitate this, the school may be asked to furnish the names and contact details of pupils (and their parents/guardians) who are close contacts of a confirmed case. If this information is requested by the Public Health Department of the HSE, the school will process the information in compliance with data protection laws*. The information will be given in a secure manner, only to named individuals and only the information necessary for the contact tracing will be given. It is the HSE and not the school, who will carry out any necessary contact tracing.
Yours Sincerely,
Anne-Marie Downes
___________________________
Secretary, Board of Management
*Articles 6(1)(c) (processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation) and 9(2)(i) (processing is for public interest reasons in the area of public health) of the GDPR.
HSE Advice for Parents
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Correct handwashing technique
Coronavirus COVID-19 - HSE Advice for Schools
RTE: Luke O'Neill, Professor of Immunology is here to help explain how our body fights a virus! This lecture explains exactly how our Immune system works.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz4CkUAHyQ0&feature=youtu.be
Child friendly video explaining what happens if or when a family has to go to a test centre
drive.google.com/open?id=1Vfyl5EjtMNZIM54gncj55LvR5YvArgVP
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz4CkUAHyQ0&feature=youtu.be
Child friendly video explaining what happens if or when a family has to go to a test centre
drive.google.com/open?id=1Vfyl5EjtMNZIM54gncj55LvR5YvArgVP
A link from the Department of Education about talking to your child about the Corona virus.
www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Announcements/talking-to-children-and-young-people-about-covid-19-coronavirus-advice-for-parents-and-schools.pdf
www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Announcements/talking-to-children-and-young-people-about-covid-19-coronavirus-advice-for-parents-and-schools.pdf
