COVID-19 Updates

Friday 18 March; 4 pm.
Please find following updates regarding COVID-19 at PLC

At present I can confirm that we have 23 active COVID-19 cases in our School. We have 21 student cases in the Senior School and 0 active cases in the Junior School. We currently have two staff with COVID-19. We have had 21 students return to school having had COVID-19 and recovered.

As we continue to receive information we will contact families if your child is identified as a close contact.  If you are not contacted at any point in time and are concerned your child may be a close contact please don’t hesitate to contact COVIDpositive@plc.wa.edu.au and someone will contact you immediately.

To assist us in continuing to manage the current situation I would ask that all parents keep their children at home if they are unwell. Even if your child has returned a negative RAT, please do not send them to school if they are displaying any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness. It is important for the health and safety of all staff and students that we do all we can to minimise the transmission of COVID-19 in our school environment.

We would also ask for family’s assistance in continuing conversations at home about the importance of wearing masks correctly during the school day. All staff appreciate every effort being made to ensure the health and safety of both staff and students.

The school is required to report all cases to AISWA (Australian Independent Schools WA) who pass this information on to the WA Health Department. It is important that we are reporting accurate information and would ask all families to advise the COVIDpositive@plc.wa.edu.au email address if:

• Your child has tested positive to COVID-19 – either RAT or PCR
• Your child is isolating as a “close contact”
• Your child is isolating as a “household contact”
• Your child has developed signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and is remaining at home

Thank you to all families for your support at this time. We will keep you updated as we receive any further changes to guidelines and / or processes. I wish all families and community members, especially those who might have COVID-19, all the best at this time. As I am sure the whole community does, I wish everyone a speedy recovery.

UPDATES

What is considered a “positive case”?

Your child is considered a positive case if they have:

• Returned a positive PCR result
• Been deemed a close contact and returns a positive RAT.

In these cases, your child must isolate for seven days, with Day 0 being the day of the positive test. This means that they can return on Day 8. Any person completing a period of isolation following a positive result must also wear a mask in all settings for the following seven days, as per the WA Health Department Guidelines. We would also ask that students complete a RAT prior to returning to school.

We have prepared a return to school process and Declaration Form that we would ask all families familiarise themselves with.

What isolation is required if my child is a “close contact”?

If your child is isolating as a “close contact”, their Day 0 is the last day that they had contact with the positive case. They then need to isolate for seven days and may return to school on Day 8. Should your child test positive whilst in isolation, the isolation period will reset to Day 0 being the day that they were tested.

What is considered a “household contact”?

If your child is isolating due to being a “household contact” their Day 0 is the day that the case tested positive. If a second person in your household tests positive while the family is in isolation, you do not need to commence the seven days of isolation again. Family members who are close contacts and living in the same household need to complete one seven-day isolation period. The second family member who tests positive will need to commence their seven-day isolation period from the day that they test positive.

If a second person in the household tests positive several weeks after the family have completed their seven days of isolation, the family will need to commence another seven days isolation. However, anyone who was previously a positive case does not need to isolate again provided it is not more than eight weeks from when they completed their isolation, and they are not immunocompromised or symptomatic.

A person who has had COVID-19 is not considered a close contact for eight weeks after they have been released from isolation.

REMINDER – CLOSE CONTACTS

What is the criteria for being a close contact?

• A household close contact
  A household member or intimate partner of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period.

• Face-to-face
  At least 15 minutes face-to-face contact where a mask was not worn by the exposed person and the person with COVID-19.

• Small indoor space / classroom / no mask
  Greater than two hours within a small indoor space or classroom environment, where masks have been removed for this period by the exposed person and the person with COVID-19 (note: others wearing masks in this scenario would not be a contact).

• Advised by WA Health
  Someone who is contacted by WA Health that they are a close contact.

Dear Boarding House parents

Following on from the communication provided on Wednesday regarding the WA Government announcement that Western Australia would move to a very high caseload settings from 12.01 am, Thursday 10 March. In addition to the information provided on Wednesday, we have since received further advice and guidelines.

At present I can confirm that we have had nine Junior School and eight Senior School (including one Boarding House) students identified as confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Two day students have already been able to return to school. We have also had two casual staff members return positive results, who did not have close contact with students. I have no doubt that everyone in our community wishes each and every student and staff member all the best for a speedy recovery.

To reassure Boarding House parents, in responding to the positive case in the Boarding House, we engaged deep cleaning of areas the student had used and were provided clear direction from the Department of Health. Our feedback from the Department of Health was that our procedures put in place were effective in meeting the expectations of the Department and hopefully minimising further spread. I would like to thank all families who were impacted for your quick and positive response.

I would like to thank all families for taking this situation as seriously as you have, and I have no doubt that your proactive and supportive response is the reason that our positive numbers remain relatively low. The information that we are receiving would suggest that numbers in WA should peak in the next two weeks so we do anticipate that this number will rise, but we will continue to communicate as quickly as possible with families if your child is identified as a close contact. If you are not contacted at any point in time and are concerned your child may be a close contact please don’t hesitate to contact COVIDpositive@plc.wa.edu.au and someone will contact you immediately. Whilst we are doing our best to gather accurate information, I am sure everyone can appreciate the challenges when trying to ask any person during a stressful time every person they have had contact with over a 48 hour period.

To assist us in continuing to manage the current situation I would ask that all parents keep their children at home if they are unwell. Even if your child has returned a negative RAT, please do not send them to school if they are displaying any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness. It is important for the health and safety of all staff and students that we do all we can to minimise the transmission of COVID-19 in our school environment.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff at PLC. Whether they are doing their best to manage learning in classrooms where a number of students are now engaging remotely as they isolate, to those taking on contact tracing responsibilities and to our Health Centre staff in particular, who have worked hard to ensure that families receive personal communication and care.

UPDATES

What is the criteria for being a close contact?

• A household close contact
  A household member or intimate partner of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period.
  Please note that Boarding House students who share a room are considered household close contacts. This does mean that they are not able to attend school as a day student if required to isolate.

• Face-to-face
  At least 15 minutes face-to-face contact where a mask was not worn by the exposed person and the person with COVID-19

• Small indoor space / classroom / no mask
  Greater than two hours within a small indoor space or classroom environment, where masks have been removed for this period by the exposed person and the person with COVID-19 (note: others wearing masks in this scenario would not be a contact)

• Advised by WA Health
  Someone who is contacted by WA Health that they are a close contact

Exemption from being a close contact for COVID-19 positive case returning from isolation

WA Health advice is that if a person tests positive from COVID-19 and completes isolation, that person cannot be classified as a close contact for eight weeks following the date they finish isolation. If more than eight weeks have passed since they finished isolation, they can be classified as a close contact as per the usual criteria.

Is my child able to come to school if they are a close contact?

Yes, as long as they are asymptomatic and not a household close contact. The changes to close contact isolation requirements does mean that students who have been identified as close contacts but are asymptomatic may attend school.

As a Boarding House student, if your child has shared a room with a student who tests positive to COVID-19 they are classified as a household close contact they are not able to attend school. In this situation, if possible, your daughter should access remote learning from their accommodation.

We would reiterate that no student should attend school if they are unwell or showing signs / symptoms of COVID-19. Even if your child has returned a negative RAT test, please do not send them to school if they are unwell.

In line with the latest guidelines, for a student identified as a close contact to attend school they must take a PCR or a RAT as soon as possible; and,

• If positive – follow confirmed COVID-19 case guidelines and contact COVIDpositive@plc.wa.edu.au
• If negative return to school. The student is allowed to attend:
  • School;
  • Out of school care; and,
  • Sporting or cultural training, practice or events organised through the relevant school and held immediately before or after school on the school grounds, travelling between the student’s usual place of residence and the place where the activity above takes place.
• Otherwise is required to isolate.

The student must then take a PCR test on Day 6 or a RAT on Day 7:

• If positive – follow confirmed positive case guideline and contact COVIDpositive@plc.wa.edu.au All positive RATs must be reported to WA Health
• If negative – no further action required.

Is my child able to remain in the Boarding House if they are identified as a close contact?

No, if your child is classified as a close contact they are not able to remain in the Boarding House but they are able to attend school if they are not a household close contact (e.g. shared a room with a student who has tested positive to COVID-19). In this situation, if possible, your daughter should access remote learning from their accommodation. Students attending school as day students will still be able to access meals during the day.

If my child has tested positive to COVID-19, when can they return to school?

A person with COVID-19 must isolate for a minimum of seven days. After the seven days take a PCR test on Day 6 or a RAT on Day 7

• If positive – remain in isolation
• If negative – no further action required and your child can return to school. Please complete the Return to School declaration form.

My child is able to attend school as a close contact. Are they able to attend activities outside of school hours and that are not on school campus?

No, students identified as close contacts are only able to attend school for the purposes outlined above.

This means:

• They will not be able to attend excursions (please see notes below regarding Year 7 OEP)
• They will not be able to attend or patriciate in IGSSA Sport (please see the attached letter from IGSSA Principal’s)

Will the modified Year 7 Outdoor Education Programme go ahead next week?

At this point in time the Year 7 OEP activities will go ahead in their modified form next week, although we will need to monitor this in relation to our case load of confirmed cases and close contacts.

If your child is identified as a close contact they will not be able to attend the elements of the programme that are not conducted on the PLC campus. We would ask that you please advise Jane Brandenburg if you find yourself in this situation.

REMINDER – MASKS

We have been very impressed with efforts to wear masks, and to wear them properly. As we have seen evidenced this week in particular, the wearing of masks significantly reduces the chance that your child will meet the criteria as a formal close contact. If families could please continue to reinforce with your children the importance of wearing their masks correctly it would be greatly appreciated. We do acknowledge that it is not necessarily comfortable, but I do believe it is assisting in keeping our positive cases at a relatively low level and supports the health and wellbeing of the whole community.

Dear Junior School parents

Following on from the communication provided on Wednesday regarding the WA Government announcement that Western Australia would move to a very high caseload settings from 12.01 am, Thursday 10 March. In addition to the information provided on Wednesday, we have since received further advice and guidelines.

At present I can confirm that we have had nine Junior School and eight Senior School students identified as confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Two of these students have already been able to return to school. We have also had two casual staff members return positive results, who did not have close contact with students. I have no doubt that everyone in our community wishes each and every student and staff member all the best for a speedy recovery.

I would like to thank all families for taking this situation as seriously as you have, and I have no doubt that your proactive and supportive response is the reason that our positive numbers remain relatively low. The information that we are receiving would suggest that numbers in WA should peak in the next two weeks so we do anticipate that this number will rise, but we will continue to communicate as quickly as possible with families if your child is identified as a close contact. If you are not contacted at any point in time and are concerned your child may be a close contact, please don’t hesitate to contact COVIDpositive@plc.wa.edu.au and someone will contact you immediately. Whilst we are doing our best to gather accurate information, I am sure everyone can appreciate the challenges when trying to ask any person during a stressful time every person they have had contact with over a 48 hour period.

To assist us in continuing to manage the current situation I would ask that all parents keep their children at home if they are unwell. Even if your child has returned a negative RAT, please do not send them to school if they are displaying any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness. It is important for the health and safety of all staff and students that we do all we can to minimise the transmission of COVID-19 in our school environment.

As we navigate remote learning for those in isolation, I would like to take the opportunity to respectfully remind parents who may be present during the lessons that while their support of their child is appreciated and extremely important, to acknowledge the privacy of the teacher and the other children in the class. We welcome parent support and engagement; however, would ask that all families treat the remote classroom as you would a normal classroom and only engage if your child requires specific support accessing the lesson or materials.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff at PLC. Whether they are doing their best to manage learning in classrooms where a number of students are now engaging remotely as they isolate, to those taking on contact tracing responsibilities and to our Health Centre staff in particular, who have worked hard to ensure that families receive personal communication and care.

UPDATES

What is the criteria for being a close contact?

• A household close contact
  A household member or intimate partner of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period.

• Face-to-face
  At least 15 minutes face-to-face contact where a mask was not worn by the exposed person and the person with COVID-19

• Small indoor space / classroom / no mask
  Greater than two hours within a small indoor space or classroom environment, where masks have been removed for this period by the exposed person and the person with COVID-19 (note: others wearing masks in this scenario would not be a contact)

• Advised by WA Health
  Someone who is contacted by WA Health that they are a close contact

Exemption from being a close contact for COVID-19 positive case returning from isolation

WA Health advice is that if a person tests positive from COVID-19 and completes isolation, that person cannot be classified as a close contact for eight weeks following the date they finish isolation. If more than eight weeks have passed since they finished isolation, they can be classified as a close contact as per the usual criteria.

Is my child able to come to school if they are a close contact?

Yes, as long as they are asymptomatic and not a household close contact. The changes to close contact isolation requirements does mean that students who have been identified as close contacts but are asymptomatic may attend school.

We would reiterate that no student should attend school if they are unwell or showing signs / symptoms of COVID-19. Even if your child has returned a negative RAT test, please do not send them to school if they are unwell.

In line with the latest guidelines, for a student identified as a close contact to attend school they must take a PCR or a RAT as soon as possible; and,

• If positive – follow confirmed COVID-19 case guidelines and contact COVIDpositive@plc.wa.edu.au
• If negative return to school. The student is allowed to attend:
  • School;
  • Out of school care; and,
  • Sporting or cultural training, practice or events organised through the relevant school and held immediately before or after school on the school grounds, travelling between the student’s usual place of residence and the place where the activity above takes place.
• Otherwise is required to isolate.

The student must then take a PCR test on Day 6 or a RAT on Day 7:

• If positive – follow confirmed positive case guideline and contact COVIDpositive@plc.wa.edu.au All positive RATs must be reported to WA Health
• if negative – no further action required.

If my child has tested positive to COVID-19, when can they return to school?

A person with COVID-19 must isolate for a minimum of seven days. After the seven days take a PCR test on Day 6 or a RAT on Day 7

• If positive – remain in isolation
• If negative – no further action required and your child can return to school. Please complete the Return to School declaration form.

REMINDER – MASKS

We have been very impressed with efforts to wear masks, and to wear them properly. As we have seen evidenced this week in particular, the wearing of masks significantly reduces the chance that your child will meet the criteria as a formal close contact. If families could please continue to reinforce with your children the importance of wearing their masks correctly it would be greatly appreciated. We do acknowledge that it is not necessarily comfortable, but I do believe it is assisting in keeping our positive cases at a relatively low level and supports the health and wellbeing of the whole community.

Dear Senior School parents

Following on from the communication provided on Wednesday regarding the WA Government announcement that Western Australia would move to a very high caseload settings from 12.01 am, Thursday 10 March. In addition to the information provided on Wednesday, we have since received further advice and guidelines.

At present I can confirm that we have had nine Junior School and eight Senior School students identified as confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Two of these students have already been able to return to school. We have also had two casual staff members return positive results, who did not have close contact with students. I have no doubt that everyone in our community wishes each and every student and staff member all the best for a speedy recovery.

I would like to thank all families for taking this situation as seriously as you have, and I have no doubt that your proactive and supportive response is the reason that our positive numbers remain relatively low. The information that we are receiving would suggest that numbers in WA should peak in the next two weeks so we do anticipate that this number will rise, but we will continue to communicate as quickly as possible with families if your child is identified as a close contact. If you are not contacted at any point in time and are concerned your child may be a close contact please don’t hesitate to contact COVIDpositive@plc.wa.edu.au and someone will contact you immediately. Whilst we are doing our best to gather accurate information, I am sure everyone can appreciate the challenges when trying to ask any person during a stressful time every person they have had contact with over a 48 hour period.

To assist us in continuing to manage the current situation I would ask that all parents keep their children at home if they are unwell. Even if your child has returned a negative RAT, please do not send them to school if they are displaying any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness. It is important for the health and safety of all staff and students that we do all we can to minimise the transmission of COVID-19 in our school environment.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff at PLC. Whether they are doing their best to manage learning in classrooms where a number of students are now engaging remotely as they isolate, to those taking on contact tracing responsibilities and to our Health Centre staff in particular, who have worked hard to ensure that families receive personal communication and care.

UPDATES

What is the criteria for being a close contact?

• A household close contact
  A household member or intimate partner of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period.
• Face-to-face
  At least 15 minutes face-to-face contact where a mask was not worn by the exposed person and the person with COVID-19.
• Small indoor space / classroom / no mask
  Greater than two hours within a small indoor space or classroom environment, where masks have been removed for this period by the exposed person and the person with COVID-19 (note: others wearing masks in this scenario would not be a contact).
• Advised by WA Health
  Someone who is contacted by WA Health that they are a close contact.

Exemption from being a close contact for COVID-19 positive case returning from isolation

WA Health advice is that if a person tests positive from COVID-19 and completes isolation, that person cannot be classified as a close contact for eight weeks following the date they finish isolation. If more than eight weeks have passed since they finished isolation, they can be classified as a close contact as per the usual criteria.

Is my child able to come to school if they are a close contact?

Yes, as long as they are asymptomatic and not a household close contact. The changes to close contact isolation requirements does mean that students who have been identified as close contacts but are asymptomatic may attend school.

We would reiterate that no student should attend school if they are unwell or showing signs / symptoms of COVID-19. Even if your child has returned a negative RAT test, please do not send them to school if they are unwell.

In line with the latest guidelines, for a student identified as a close contact to attend school they must take a PCR or a RAT as soon as possible; and,

• If positive – follow confirmed COVID-19 case guidelines and contact COVIDpositive@plc.wa.edu.au
• If negative return to school. The student is allowed to attend:
  • School;
  • Out of school care; and,
  • Sporting or cultural training, practice or events organised through the relevant school and held immediately before or after school on the school grounds, travelling between the student’s usual place of residence and the place where the activity above takes place.
• Otherwise is required to isolate

The student must then take a PCR test on Day 6 or a RAT on Day 7:

• If positive – follow confirmed positive case guideline and contact COVIDpositive@plc.wa.edu.au
  All positive RATs must be reported to WA Health
• If negative – no further action required.

If my child has tested positive to COVID-19, when can they return to school?

A person with COVID-19 must isolate for a minimum of seven days. After the seven days take a PCR test on Day 6 or a RAT on Day 7.

• If positive – remain in isolation.
• If negative – no further action required and your child can return to school. Please complete the Return to School declaration form.

My child is able to attend school as a close contact. Are they able to attend activities outside of school hours and that are not on school campus?

No, students identified as close contacts are only able to attend school for the purposes outlined above.

This means:

• They will not be able to attend excursions (please see notes below regarding Year 7 OEP)
• They will not be able to attend or patriciate in IGSSA Sport (please see the attached letter from IGSSA Principal’s)

Will the modified Year 7 Outdoor Education Programme go ahead next week?

At this point in time the Year 7 OEP activities will go ahead in their modified form next week, although we will need to monitor this in relation to our case load of confirmed cases and close contacts.

If your child is identified as a close contact they will not be able to attend the elements of the programme that are not conducted on the PLC campus. We would ask that you please advise Jane Brandenburg if you find yourself in this situation.

REMINDER – MASKS

We have been very impressed with efforts to wear masks, and to wear them properly. As we have seen evidenced this week in particular, the wearing of masks significantly reduces the chance that your child will meet the criteria as a formal close contact. If families could please continue to reinforce with your children the importance of wearing their masks correctly it would be greatly appreciated. We do acknowledge that it is not necessarily comfortable, but I do believe it is assisting in keeping our positive cases at a relatively low level and supports the health and wellbeing of the whole community.

COVID-19 Return to School Checklist

COVID-19 Return to School Declaration Form