UPDATE IF SOMEONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAS COVID SYMPTOMS OR HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID

Dear Parent/Carer

You may already be aware that there have been some changes to the Welsh Government’s Covid-19 guidance when there is someone in your household who either has tested positive for Covid-19 or has displayed Covid-19 symptoms.

With immediate effect, if someone in a household tests positive for Covid-19 or develops symptoms for Covid-19 then everyone else in the household (apart from the under 5s) is asked to isolate at home and take a PCR test as soon as possible. Those who produce a negative result can then immediately return to school or work provided they are double vaccinated (post 14 days after the second vaccination) or are under 18 years old. This does not include children under 5 years old and they are able to attend to school unless they have any Covid-19 symptoms. Household contacts are no longer advised to take a day 8 PCR test.

It also does not include anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 within the last 90 days. As long as these individuals have completed their 10 day isolation and are free of symptoms, it is now suggested that staff and secondary pupils take a Lateral Flow Test and isolate until they have a negative result. Please note that primary pupils should not use Lateral Flow Tests and can attend school provided they are free of symptoms. Those over 18 and not fully vaccinated will need to isolate for 10 days even if the PCR test after close contact with a positive case is negative.

These changes mean that if your child is sent home because they are displaying Covid-19 symptoms in school, it is likely that the school will request that you take siblings who live in the same household home and advise that they also have a PCR test, unless the sibling is under 5. 

The decision whether or not to have your child PCR tested is your own but we ask you to strongly consider taking this advice in order to support our schools in keeping everyone as safe as possible. Please note that they will be required to self-isolate for 10 days if they develop symptoms and you choose not to have them tested.

We ask you to continue to inform your child’s school immediately if they develop any of the ‘classic’ symptoms of Covid-19 (a high temperature, a new continuous cough or loss or change in taste/smell) and keep them away from school, or if they test positive for Covid-19.

As we continue to see high case rates in our locality and across Wales, I would remind you that we still strongly encourage parents and carers to wear face coverings whilst on the school site.

Please can I remind you that all pupils must wear a face covering on school transport and in communal areas of the school. We would appreciate your support in ensuring that pupils have a face covering and that you remind them of the importance of wearing it properly to protect their peers and the staff.

Yours sincerely 

Ionwen Spowage (Mrs) 

Headteacher