Update to COVID-19 guidance

Dear Families

Further to yesterday’s parentmail, we have today received updated guidance from Government on what an individual should do if they are confirmed as a contact of a positive Covid-19 case.

As of 14 December 2021, the following people can take a lateral flow test every day for seven days instead of isolating, if they have been identified as a close contact of a suspected or confirmed case of any variant of Covid-19 (including Omicron):

• fully vaccinated adults (i.e. those who have had 2 doses of an approved vaccine)
• all children and young people aged between five year old to 18 years and six months, regardless of their vaccination status
• people who are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
• people taking part, or have taken part, in an approved clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine

The results of each lateral flow test should be reported through the Online Reporting System. If an individual tests negative, they can continue to attend their education setting.

If they test positive, they should self-isolate and order a PCR test to confirm the result. If the PCR is positive, they must self-isolate for 10 days. If the PCR test is negative, they no longer need to self-isolate but should continue to carry out the remainder of the daily tests, and only need to isolate if it is positive.

Anyone over the age of 18 years and six months who is not fully vaccinated (and not exempt from isolating for any of the reasons listed above) is still required to self-isolate in line with government guidelines if they are a close contact of a positive case.

Thank you.

Sam and Donna