COVID-19 Update – Year 8 Students

Date:8th December, 2020

Dear Parent/Carer of Year 8 students

Re: Contact of confirmed case of COVID-19 in Pentrehafod School, Pentremawr Road, Hafod, Swansea, SA1 2NN

Your child has been identified as a contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 and will now need to self-isolate for 14 days (from Friday 4th December to Friday 18th December 2020. Please notes that Track and Trace work back from the last possible point of infection, hence Friday 4th December is the starting point) . By identifying contacts and asking them to self-isolate for 14 days, we will reduce the possible spread of COVID-19 from those contacts to their family, friends and the wider community.

Self-isolation advice requires your child to stay at home, not to go outdoors to exercise, to visit shops, family or friends, or to other public spaces. Please do not invite people to your house. Further information on self-isolation can be found in the link at the bottom of this letter.

If your child remains well then the other members of the household do not need to isolate and can continue with their normal activities. If your child is still well at the end of the 14-day period of self-isolation, they can return to their other usual activities on Saturday 19th December 2020. Unfortunately year 8 students cannot return to school until January 2021.

This 14-day period of self-isolation cannot be reduced by having a test. A test is only for people who develop symptoms of COVID-19.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, there are things that everyone in your family can do to help. These include:

• washing hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• using hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• washing hands as soon as they get home
• covering their mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not their hands) when they cough or sneeze
• putting used tissues in the bin immediately and washing hands afterwards

Please be alert for symptoms of COVID-19 in your child, which are:
• A new or continuous cough
• A high temperature
• A loss of or change to sense of smell or taste

If your child develops any of these symptoms, even if they are mild:

• Book a test for them by phoning 01639 862757 or 119 or through the online portal: https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test
• Inform Pentrehafod School that they are unwell with COVID-19 symptoms and that you have requested a test
• Your child should remain in self-isolation
• All other household members should isolate for 14 days from when your child developed symptoms
• Do not visit a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital but if you require medical advice please contact NHS 111 or telephone your GP; if there is a medical emergency phone 999
• If you require medical advice for COVID-19 symptoms or another reason, please inform the healthcare worker that your child is a contact of a case of COVID-19 and in self-isolation
• Please follow the advice provided when your child receives their test result

Further formation on Test, Trace, Protect can be found here https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-coronavirus
Further information on symptoms and self-isolation can be found here https://gov.wales/symptoms-and-self-isolation-contact-tracing
For general information on COVID-19 https://gov.wales/protect-yourself-others-coronavirus
The COVID-19 online symptom checker can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do https://gov.wales/check-if-you-need-coronavirus-medical-help

Despite these very difficult circumstances, I do hope that our year 8 students can continue with their home learning. We will continue to post work on HWB Teams and call also deliver paper copies of work if this is easier for you and your family. Please contact your child’s Learning Leader, Mr Lacey, if you require any support with schoolwork.

Finally, please can I request that all families are vigilant regarding their child’s social media posts. No one should be sharing information regarding anyone with Coronavirus as this is strictly confidential.

Yours faithfully,

Jennifer Ford