Updated COVID 19 Guidance - January 2022

As we begin a new year and a new school term we are unfortunately faced with the same difficult circumstances as we did at the end of the previous school term. You will appreciate that we continue to navigate a very difficult situation as the Omicron variant of Covid continues to spread at an ever-increasing pace.

As a school we face many challenges in operating on a daily basis and we continue to work closely with you by doing all we can to ensure school can continue to operate.

I am sure you are all aware of the PHA advice on things you can continue to do to help reduce the risk of you or anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19. However, it may be worth reminding yourself of this advice

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• wash your hands as soon as you get home
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

As it currently stands this is a summary of the most up to date advice from PHA but please be aware that this is constantly changing and may not continue to be accurate in a few days.

Covid Guidance Summary

Testing for Covid-19

The Public Health Agency has put in place new PCR testing protocols to help protect the testing system in Northern Ireland and ensure availability of testing for those who need it.

People who test positive on lateral flow test will no longer need a PCR test to confirm that result. If your lateral flow is positive, you should assume you have COVID-19 and that you are infectious. You should therefore self-isolate immediately for the required period.

You do not need to take a confirmatory PCR test.

It is extremely important that you report your positive lateral flow test. This will trigger contact tracing processes to alert people you have been in close contact with and to provide them with advice regarding their potential to become infected and spread the virus.

Lateral flow results should be reported online at https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result

If you cannot use the online service, you should call 119 (free from mobiles and landlines) to report the result of your lateral flow test.

Fully-vaccinated* close contacts of a positive case will no longer be required to take a PCR test unless you develop symptoms. They are instead advised to take a lateral flow device (LFD) test as soon as possible after being identified as a close contact and continue to take daily lateral flow tests until the tenth day after the last contact with the positive case. If any LFD turns positive at any time during the 10 days, you should isolate immediately.

Unvaccinated people will have to continue to self-isolate for 10 days as before.

It is no longer necessary for children under five years of age to take a PCR test – even if they have symptoms like a cough or temperature – unless advised to do so by their doctor. 

*Fully-vaccinated people are those who have had at least two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, with the second dose at least 14 days ago.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are:

• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature); OR
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual); OR
• a loss of or change in sense of smell or taste.

There are two ways to get a coronavirus test: going to a testing centre or getting a test kit delivered to your home.

Testing in Northern Ireland can be booked at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

If you have questions about a test you've booked you can call free phone 119 or 0300 303 2713.

It should be noted that this is a summary of the current guidance which is constantly being updated.

The most up to date information and guidance can be found on the links below.

NI Direct - https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-self-isolating-and-close-contacts

Department of Health - http://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/if-you-get-positive-lateral-flow-test-self-isolate-required-period