Coronavirus Concerns

Understandably many of us are concerned about the recent outbreak of the CoronaVirus.  We have decided the best course of action is to follow NSW Department of Health guidelines and recommend the following:

• Children who have visited China in the past two weeks are requested not to attend school or childcare services until 14 days have passed from their date of departure from China.

This is the latest advice from the NSW Government for parents and affected staff as of 7th February 2020:

Any student or staff member who has been in, or transited through, mainland China (not just Hubei province) on or after 1 February is excluded from school or child care services for 14 days from the date they left mainland China (as the novel coronavirus’ incubation period can be as long as two weeks).

 

Any confirmed case of novel coronavirus will be excluded until they are medically cleared to return.
Close contact of a confirmed case of novel coronavirus will be excluded for 14 days since last contact with the confirmed case.

 

For visitors to China prior to 1 February, the previous advice remains that any student or staff member who has visited Hubei province is excluded from school or child care services for 14 days from the date of their departure, and anyone who was in the rest of China is requested not to attend school or child care services for a period of 14 days after the date of their departure.

 

More information can be found at NSW HealthExternal link.

 

Students who returned to Australia from mainland China more than 14 days ago and have shown no symptoms are able to return to school.

 

The Ministry of Health has processes in place to identify any close contacts of cases confirmed in Australia. Advice about not attending school would be provided to these close contacts by the Ministry of Health.

 

There has been a small number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in NSW.

 

Consistent with current guidelines, staff and students who are unwell with respiratory illness should remain at home until symptoms resolve. In accordance with our current practice if any child becomes unwell we will implement our infection control guidelines and follow the advice provided by the Ministry of Health as appropriate.

 

The Department of Education will continue to work with the Ministry of Health to monitor and respond to the unfolding international novel coronavirus situation.

 

Anyone who develops a fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath within 14 days of travel to Hubei or contact with a person with confirmed coronavirus, should immediately isolate themselves from other people, contact their GP or local emergency department or call the healthdirect helpline 1800 022 222

With this advice in mind we have canelled our Little Mouse Big Year event scheduled for Febuary 9th 2020 but the Feb 16th and 23rd Events will still go-ahead. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope you will understand why we have taken this step.

How to Protect Yourself Against the Coronavirus

According to the World Health Organisation, although there is currently no cure or vaccine, the best you can do is to take the following simple precautions:

• Frequently wash their hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or warm water and soap
• Cover their mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when sneezing or coughing
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever or cough
• Seek early medical help if they have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, and share their travel history with healthcare providers
• Avoid direct, unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals when visiting live markets in affected areas
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked animal products and exercise care when handling raw meat, milk or animal organs to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods.

If you have any health-related questions please contact your GP or call the Health Direct helpline on 1800 022 222.

For questions related to AMEA please refer to our Contact Us page.