You’ve been directed to this webpage from a City of Edinburgh Council text message. The letter below is only intended for staff members who have received this text message directly from the Council (reversal notice).
You were recently advised that you were a close contact of a case of COVID-19 in the school/setting. That diagnosis was based on a provisional test result. However the subsequent confirmatory test result was negative.
This letter below only applies to the person who is in the year / registration group and school/setting stated in the Council text message.
Message from NHS Lothian Board
To staff close contacts of a COVID-19 Case in school
Dear Staff member,
You were recently advised that you were a close contact of a case of COVID-19 in school.
That diagnosis was based on a provisional test result. However the subsequent confirmatory test result was negative. Therefore, that person is now considered not to have COVID-19 and you have therefore not been exposed to the virus from them.
This means that you can stop self-isolating and return to the school as per operating arrangements so long as
- you remain well and have not developed any symptoms of COVID-19
- you have not tested positive for COVID-19 in the past few days
- you have not been identified as a close contact of another positive case outwith school
If you have developed symptoms of COVID-19 or tested positive in recent days, or been identified as a close contact of another case outside school, then you must continue to self-isolate and follow the advice given by Test and Protect. Please see the section below for more information.
If you have any questions, please speak to your head teacher in the first instance. They can then contact a member of the health protection team if needed for further advice.
What to do if you develop symptoms of COVID-19
- If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 you must self isolate and stay at home. You should 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 of your household members (including yourself) must now stay at home and self-isolate from the point your symptoms started. You should all remain in isolation until the result of the test is received. The household should then follow the advice that will be given with the test result.
- If your test is positive, you should remain in self-isolation for at least 10 days from the date your symptoms started. 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 return to school once you are well enough to do so (as per standard school illness policy), and as long as you have not developed additional symptoms of COVID-19, and have not had a fever for 48 hours. The rest of the household can come out of self-isolation and return to their usual activitives once the test result returns negative.
- 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
Further information is available at:
View the school related Coronavirus FAQs
For general Coronavirus FAQs 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