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Omicron strain of Covid-19

Dear all,

In the light of the emergence of Omicron strain of Covid-19, thought it would be useful to relay our current approach as we cast our minds to January:

  • Learners and tutors must test before they come back to class in January
  • Learners and tutors should test twice a week as a minimum, however we strongly encourage testing before each session
  • Masks are to be worn in communal areas, but not necessarily in class (although tutors/learners can elect to do so if they wish)
  • Please keep classrooms ventilated by opening doors and windows (I know this can make the rooms feel a bit cold)
  • We continue to encourage good hand and general hygiene with the “catch it, bin it, kill it”approach (encourage the use of hand sanitizer and let us know if you run out/are running low)
  • If anyone in our setting develops COVID-19 symptoms, however mild, we should send them home and they should follow public health advice. If this occurs contact Michael Buckman or myself for support.
  • Students, staff and other adults should follow public health advice on when to self isolate. They should not come into the setting if they have symptoms or other reasons requiring them to stay at home due to the risk of them passing on COVID-19 (for example, they are required to quarantine or they are a close contact of a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19).
  • Isolation rules at time of writing are unchanged. Individuals are not required to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 that has not been identified as the Omicron variant, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 that is not the Omicron variant, and any of the following apply:
    • they’re fully vaccinated
    • they’re below the age of 18 years 6 months
    • they’ve taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
    • they’re not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

Instead, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test. We would encourage all individuals to take a PCR test if advised to do so.

Adults who do not need to isolate and young people aged under 18 years 6 months who usually attend an education or childcare setting, and have been identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 that has not been identified as the Omicron variant, should continue to attend the setting as normal.

Many thanks for helping us to mitigate the risk of transmission and we very much hope we can run classes next term as close to normal as possible. However, I know you will be prepared to adapt as we have before if we have to.

A version of this will go onto Moodle so please do mention to your learners as you see fit, especially the bit about testing before they come to class

All the best and stay safe,

Nick Fenn

Principal

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