You’ve been directed to this webpage from a City of Edinburgh Council text message. The information below is only intended for Staff Members who have received this text directly from the Council and the school/setting name is included.
The letter below is an important COVID-19 update about your school/setting.
Message from NHS Lothian Board
COVID-19 information letter to school staff
Dear Staff Member,
There has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within your school.
Everyone who has been in close contact with the confirmed case has been identified, contacted and advised to stay at home and self-isolate for 10 days, and to get tested.
The school has multiple control measures in place against COVID-19, supported with regular testing of staff, to limit any risk of onwards transmission with the school environment.
However, if there are any further cases of COVID-19 in the school, we will work with the school to ensure these individuals, and any of their close contacts, are advised to self-isolate promptly.
In addition, if there are any further important updates we will communicate this to the school community.
The school otherwise remains open in line with current Scottish Government guidelines. If you have not been advised that you are a close contact and remain well, you can continue to attend school as per your school’s current arrangements.
If you have been advised that you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please follow the information outlined in that separate text and letter. The information below is general information for staff who have not been identified as a close contact.
What to do if you develop symptoms of COVID-19
- If you develop any symptoms of COVID-19 you must not come to school. You should stay at home from when your symptoms started, self-isolate, and get tested for COVID-19. Find out more on NHS Inform. The symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:
- a new continuous cough and/or
- a high temperature and/or
- a loss of, or change in, taste or smell (anosmia).
- All other members of your household (including yourself) must also stay at home and self-isolate as well until the result of the test is received. The household should then follow the advice that will be given with the test result.
- If the test is positive, you should remain in self-isolation for at least 10 days from the date your symptoms started, and the rest of the household must remain in self-isolation for the full 10 days from the day when you first had symptoms:
- Household members should not go to work or school. No one should visit your house. No one should leave your house to go to shops, public areas, or use public transport. See website below for more information.
- Staying at home for 10 days will help stop the spread of coronavirus
- If someone else in the household goes on to develop symptoms of COVID-19 in this 10 day period, then they should continue to self-isolate and arrange to be tested.
- If your test is negative, you can come out of isolation and return to school if you are well enough to do so (as per standard school illness policy), and have not had a fever for 48 hours. The rest of the household can also come out of self-isolation and return to their usual activities.
- It is important that anyone with one or more of the COVID-19 symptoms gets tested, so that anyone who tests positive knows to continue to stay at home (with their household) and self-isolate. This will help stop the spread of coronavirus.
For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.
If you develop symptoms you can seek advice from NHS Inform.
How to stop COVID-19 spreading
There are things you can do to reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19. Do:
- regularly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- wash your hands as soon as you get home
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- put used tissues straight in the bin and wash your hands.
Further information
View the school related Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions:
For general Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions and information:
https://www.parentclub.scot/topics/coronavirus/coronavirus-faq?age=0
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19
Yours sincerely
Katie Dee
Interim Director of Public Health and Health Policy