06 Mar 2020
Dear parent or caregiver,
The NSW Department of Education is working closely with the NSW Ministry of Health in response to the unfolding international COVID-19 (formerly referred to as Novel Coronavirus) situation.
Further travel restrictions
Effective of 5 March 2020, the Federal Government has issued updated advice on travel restrictions on foreign nationals (excluding permanent residents of Australia) coming to Australia from the Republic of Korea (South Korea).
Current advice from the NSW Government for parents and affected staff is:
Any student or staff member who has left, or transited through mainland China since 1 February, Iran since 1 March or the Republic of Korea (South Korea) since 5 March, is excluded from child care services, school or work for 14 days from the date they left mainland China, Iran or the Republic of Korea (South Korea).
Any confirmed case of COVID-19 will be excluded until they are medically cleared to return.
Close contacts of a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be excluded for 14 days since last contact with the confirmed case.
Students and staff who have returned to Australia and have shown no symptoms during the 14-day self-isolation period are able to return to child care services, school or work.
The NSW Ministry of Health has processes to identify any close contacts of cases confirmed in Australia. Advice about not attending school would be provided to these close contacts by the NSW Ministry of Health.
Consistent with current guidelines, students who are unwell with respiratory illness should remain at home until symptoms resolve. In accordance with the NSW Department of Education’s current practice, if any student becomes unwell, the school will implement infection control guidelines and follow the advice provided by the NSW Ministry of Health as appropriate.
Maintaining good hygiene standards is an important way to reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading respiratory infections. Parents and caregivers are asked to promote good hygiene, including handwashing with soap as handwashing is the single most effective way to reduce the spread of germs that cause respiratory disease.
The NSW Ministry of Health has advice and resources about COVID-19 in English, Chinese.and other languages
The NSW Department of Education will continue monitoring the COVID-19 situation and provide parents and caregivers with updated information about the virus.
Telephone Interpreter Service
If you need further information please call your school principal. If you need an interpreter to assist you with your enquiry please call the Telephone Interpreter Service on 131 450 and ask for an interpreter in your language. This service will be free of charge to you.
