Platt Bridge Community School

At Community First Academy Trust we take the health and safety of our students and staff very seriously.

There is currently no cause for concern at the school and we will obviously keep you informed about any developments.

We will keep this article updated with the latest guidance from Public Health England guidance.

What is coronavirus?

Coronavirus is a type of virus which is part of a group of viruses that are common across the world. Typical symptoms of the virus include a fever and cough that may develop into severe pneumonia, causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Severe symptoms are usually caused in people that have weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions, such as diabetes and chronic lung disease.

Novel coronavirus (named COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus that was first identified in China.

The incubation period is between 2 and 14 days – if a person remains well for 14 days after contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus, this means they have not been infected.

Coronavirus is likely to spread when there is close contact (within two metres or less) with an infected person. Currently, there is no good evidence to suggest that people who are not presenting symptoms are infectious to others.

Prevent the spread of infection

> Make sure you and your children follow these general principles to prevent spreading any respiratory virus:
> Wash your hands often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or an alcohol-based sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available
> Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
> Avoid close contact with people who are sick
> If you feel unwell, stay at home and don’t attend work or school
> Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin
> Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home
> If you’re worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111 – don’t go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment

If you or your children have returned from a category 1 country or area in past 14 days

This includes:
> Wuhan city and Hubei province, China Iran* Daegu or Cheongdo, South Korea*
? Any Italian town under containment measures* (see the map here)
*Only if you’ve returned on or after 19 February 2020

Contact NHS 111 for advice, and:
Self-isolate for 14 days after leaving the country or area (see the home isolation advice sheet for help with this)
If you become unwell, call NHS 111 immediately for an assessment (or 999 if you require emergency medical attention) – see below for the symptoms to look out for

If you or your children have returned from a category 2 country or area in last 14 days
This includes:
Cambodia
China (other than Wuhan city or Hubei province)
Hong Kong
Italy: north* (see the map here)
Japan
Laos
Macau
Malaysia
Myanmar
Singapore
South Korea (other than Daegu or Cheongdo)
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam
*Only if you’ve returned on or after 19 February 2020

If you or your children are well:
> You don’t need to avoid contact with other people
> Your other family members don’t need to take any precautions or make any changes to their own activities
If you become unwell (see below for a list of symptoms):
> Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu viruses (see the home isolation advice sheet for help with this)
> Call NHS 111 immediately for an assessment (or 999 if you require emergency medical attention)

Symptoms to look out for
If you’ve returned from any of the category 1 or 2 areas or countries, look out for the following symptoms:
> Cough
> Difficulty in breathing
> Fever (a temperature of 38 degrees C or higher)
According to other official guidance, while you wait for further advice:
> Avoid contact with others
> Stay at home – don’t go to work or school
> Don’t travel while sick
> Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing, throwing tissues in the bin
> Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (or an alcohol-based sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available) - age appropriate 

If you or your child have any further concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact school for further advice.

Best wishes,

Ann Howard - Head of School