The latest from Catholic Schools NSW

It is important that schools continue to follow the COVID-19 Guidelines. CSNSW wishes to highlight the following:

• Staff and students should not attend work or school if unwell, even with mild symptoms of COVID-19. Any person with any COVID-19 symptoms should be sent home and should not return until they have received a negative test result and are symptom-free.  In circumstances where children have other medical reasons for recurrent symptoms a letter from their GP is sufficient to negate the requirement for a negative test.
• Anyone who is unwell with COVID-19 symptoms are strongly encouraged to get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received. Location of testing clinics are available via the NSW COVID-19 Testing Clinics  
• All staff must monitor the NSW government website for locations where there may have been exposure to COVID-19 and adhere to the advice as appropriate.
• Schools must be vigilant in implementing:
• Personal hygiene, physical distancing, cleaning and record keeping practices at these events.
• Where possible to use outdoor areas, weather permitting or large open spaces to enable adequate physical distancing.
• All visitors to a school site must be well and symptom free, comply with sign-in arrangements, and the 1.5m physical distancing requirements.
• Staff and visitors to schools and offices should maintain 1.5m distance from other people where practicable. Avoid congestion of groups of visitors in specific areas where possible.
• All visitors to a school site must comply with sign-in arrangements. This includes the requirement to sign the school sign-in sheet where they acknowledge that they will comply with the COVID-19 requirements for visitors, contractors and service providers each time they visit.  Schools are encouraged to use QR Codes. 
• Schools should review their preparedness to enact their arrangements for providing learning and working from home in case this is required at short notice. 
• Key information
• The NSW Government websitecontinuously updates the identified COVID-19 case locations in NSW. Make sure you regularly visit the website and encourage your staff to do the same. Please follow the instructions if you have visited one of the locations. 
• Schools should report any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 to your Diocesan office (Systemic schools) or Catholic Schools NSW (RI and PJP schools) and contact the local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055 to provide details so that the Public Health Unit can follow up as necessary.

For further information, please contact Catholic Schools NSW via the dedicated COVID-19 Hotline, 1800 427 679.