The Government guidance was updated further on Monday 16th March as we moved into the social distancing phase.
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are the recent onset of:
- new continuous cough and/or
- high temperature
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However, if you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
Individuals with symptoms that may be due to coronavirus and their household members must stay at home. Staying at home will help control the spread of the virus to friends, the wider community, and particularly the most vulnerable. In addition, people living within a household will likely infect each other or may already be infected. Staying at home for 14 days will significantly reduce the overall amount of infection the family could pass on to others in the community.
Those who would be considered as vulnerable:
- aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
- under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (ie anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):
- chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
- chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
- chronic kidney disease
- chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
- chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
- diabetes
- problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
- a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
- being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
- those who are pregnant
- people who have received an organ transplant and remain on ongoing immunosuppression medication
- people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia who are at any stage of treatment
- people with severe chest conditions such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma (requiring hospital admissions or courses of steroid tablets)
- people with severe diseases of body systems, such as severe kidney disease (dialysis)Please note there is additional guidance that a person is vulnerable if “they are instructed to get the flu jab each year.” If you are unsure concerning asthma please contact your asthma health professional.
If anyone matches the above definition, it is “strongly advised” by the Government to follow the guidance on SOCIAL DISTANCING. This advice states “vulnerable” people are STRONGLY ADVISED to avoid “Social mixing in the community”. This reduces the risk of the “vulnerable” person catching the coronavirus and being very ill and attending hospital.
For “vulnerable” children and adults “, social mixing in the community” would include coming to school.
Remember, if you are unsure and would like to talk it through, please call the school office, where we will do our best to help.
Thank you again for your understanding, patience and support.
Mrs Wilkie