While the situation regarding the COVID-19 continues to evolve, the Department of Education sector has established plans and a team to support principals and schools. It is important that as a school community we apply common sense, factual information and a practical approach to COVID – 19.

If a WA school has to close due to a confirmed case, it will be on advice from the WA Health Department’s Chief Health Officer. The Chief Health Officer may, if there has been a positive COVID-19 test result in our school community, close our school temporarily while assessment and tracing of exposure is conducted. A thorough school clean will then be carried out to make the school safe for the return of students and staff.

In this situation the principal will receive direct advice and support regarding the closure process and communication materials from the Department of Education’s Coronavirus support team. 

Upon the school being notified, all families will be immediately contacted and provided with the relevant information. This contact may be during the school day, or before or after school. It is therefore important that we have up-to-date contact details for your children, please notify the front office if these have changed.

Parents will also be advised of the extent to which class work can be completed at home during this temporary closure and provided with the details of how this will work.  

While it is acknowledged that this may be a stressful time for the community, parents are reminded that schools open and close all of the time and that the reason for any school closure will be to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

How to minimise the spread of COVID-19

• Frequently washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or using an alcohol based hand gel
• Refraining from touching mouth and nose
• If coughing or sneezing, covering your nose and mouth with a paper tissue or flexed elbow
• Dispose of the tissue immediately after use and perform hand hygiene
• Avoiding close contact with anyone if you, or they, have a cold or flu-like symptoms (maintain a distance of at least 1 metre).

Who cannot attend school – advice as at 11 March 2020

Students or staff cannot attend school and need to self-quarantine if they have:

1. left or transited through mainland China in the last 14 days, they must isolate themselves for 14 days from the date of leaving mainland China;
2. left or transited through Iran on or after 1 March, they must isolate themselves for 14 days after leaving Iran;
3. left or transited through theRepublic of Korea, on or after 5 March, they must isolate themselves for 14 days after leaving the Republic of Korea;
4. left or transited through Italy, on or after 11 March, they must isolate themselves for 14 days after leaving Italy. People who left or transited through Italy prior to 11 March, should monitor symptoms and seek medical attention should they feel unwell; and
5. been informed by public health authorities that they have been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus, they must isolate themselves for 14 days after the date of last contact with the confirmed case.

Students or staff who have been tested for COVID-19 should follow the advice of the Department of Health and stay away from school whilst awaiting results.

COVID-19 symptoms

People with COVID-19 may experience:

• fever;
• flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue; or
• shortness of breath.

For the latest health information and health related enquiries please visit WA Department of Healthor access the helpline 1800 020 080.

COVID-19 testing

The WA Chief Health Officer, Dr Andrew Robertson, has advised people should not go to be tested for COVID-19 to either COVID Clinics or GPs unless they are currently experiencing symptoms and meet the testing criteria.

To be eligible for testing people must:

• be currently experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat AND have
• returned from overseas travel in the last 14 days
• OR be currently experiencing symptoms, and be a contact of a confirmed case
• OR be currently experiencing symptoms and believe they have been in close contact with a person infected with COVID-19.