Monday 25 January 2021
Parents received advice from their child's school this morning to reassure them following confirmation of COVID-19 cases across seven education settings.
Headteachers wrote to parents to provide information relevant to their school's current circumstances and also offer guidance aimed at supporting Public Health's efforts to contact trace and test any students and staff that is considers necessary.
We know that this is a worrying for parents but there are robust systems in place to help manage this situation. As part of Public Health's well-established contact tracing procedures, they will directly contact any student or member of staff if they need to be tested.
Please note that it might not be necessary to test all year groups. Where positive cases have been confirmed (St Sampson's High, Hautes Capelles, Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre, Le Murier, Elizabeth College Senior School and Junior School, Maylands Nursery) the buildings are undergoing a rigorous deep cleaning process.
If you don't hear from Public Health please do not instigate testing yourselves unless you are symptomatic. If you or your children develop symptoms please contact the clinical helpline on 756938/756969 in the first instance. For more information about symptoms please visit https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/symptoms.
Public Health is incredibly busy so please adhere to the above advice and do not contact them to alert them of any links that you think that you might have. Please only contact the helpline if you are currently symptomatic.
Deputy Peter Ferbrache, Chair of the Civil Contingencies Authority, said:
'We know the confirmation of cases across seven education settings will have understandably caused concern amongst parents and staff. On an island such as ours, education provision is very connected with married staff working across different sites and siblings attending different schools. What is most important right now is for parents and staff to work with us, help protect Public Health's capacity by not phoning or emailing unless you are symptomatic, and please go about your lives within the current rules in the knowledge that you will be contacted if you're identified as needing a test.'
