St. Mary’s Primary School & Nursery Unit, Mullaghbawn
Our response to the anticipated contact of Covid-19
1. Preventing spread of infection in St Mary’s and our community:
General principles:
- washing your hands often – with soap and water, or use alcohol sanitiser if hand-washing facilities are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport i.e. school buses
- covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in a bin. See, “Catch it, Bin it, Kill it” https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/101/resources/5016
- people who feel unwell should stay at home and should not attend school
- pupils, students, staff and visitors should wash their hands:
- before leaving home
- on arrival at school
- after using the toilet
- after breaks and sporting activities
- before food preparation
- before eating any food, including snacks
- before leaving school
- use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
- avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- avoid close contact with people who are unwell
- clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- if you are worried about your symptoms or those of a child or colleague, please call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment
2. What to do if pupils, students or staff in St Mary’s become unwell and believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 (either through travel to specified countries or areas or contact with a confirmed case)
Call the GP or NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency (if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk), and if appropriate, explain which country they have returned from in the last 14 days. You can do this on their behalf if this is easier. People who become unwell should be advised not to go to their GP, pharmacy, or a hospital.
3. What to do if a case of COVID-19 (pupil, student or staff) is suspected in St Mary’s PS
If anyone has been in contact with a suspected case in an educational setting, no restrictions or special control measures are required while laboratory test results for COVID-19 are awaited unless otherwise advised by health professionals.
4. What to do if a case of COVID-19 (pupil, student or staff) is confirmed in St. Mary’s P.S.
We will be contacted by the Public Health Agency to: discuss the case, identify people who have been in contact with them and advised on any actions or precautions that should be taken.
An assessment of our school will be undertaken by the Health Protection Team with relevant staff. Advice on the management of pupils or students and staff will be based on this assessment.
The Health Protection Team will also be in contact with the patient directly to advise on isolation and identifying other contacts, and will be in touch with any contacts of the patient to provide them with appropriate advice.
Advice on cleaning of communal areas such as classrooms, changing rooms and toilets will be given by the Health Protection Team.
If there is a confirmed case, the local Health Protection Team will advise on whether any closure/restrictions, in consultation with us. (The decision to close will not be the decision of the Principal or Governors but the local Health Protection Team)
5. Communication/updates from our school will be posted on our social media