STAYING AT HOME IF UNWELL POLICY If your child is displaying any of these symptoms they may be at risk of having COVID-19: • temperature of 37.5°C or higher • runny nose • cough • loss of sense of smell or taste • body ache or fatigue • diarrhoea or nausea/vomiting • shortness of breath • headache • sore throat LOWER RISK
HIGHER RISK
If a child begins to show any symptoms outlined above whilst at school, they will be taken to the Health Office and the parent/guardian of the child will be notified and asked to collect the child from school.
If a child begins to show any symptoms outlined above and has: • International travel history during the 14 days prior to symptom onset; OR • Been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case; OR • Residing in a community setting where COVID-19 cases have been detected; OR • Influenza-like illness without history of travel or known COVID-19 exposure. Please follow the directions below
If a child has one symptom outlined above, then they should remain at home until the symptom has resolved. If the symptom persists your child must be assessed by a doctor to provide a diagnosis/review the need for a PCR test.
If a child begins to show any symptoms and/or meets the criteria above whilst at school, they will be taken to the Isolation Room. The parent/guardian of the child will be notified immediately and the parent must refer their child to undertake a mandatory PCR test. Siblings do not need to leave school unless they are also symptomatic.
If a child has two or more symptoms, your child must be assessed by a doctor to provide a diagnosis/review the need for a PCR test. Your child should remain at home until their symptoms have resolved for 24 hours even if the COVID PCR result is negative.
If a child begins to show any symptoms when at home, you should seek medical attention and have a PCR test done. Then follow instructions below and contact the Health Office to advise. Lateral flow tests are not accepted as proof of COVID-19 infection. If you test positive with a lateral flow test then this must be followed up with a PCR test immediately. If a presumptive positive PCR test is received, then you must re-test within 48-72 hours of the first test and remain at home until either a positive or negative PCR test is received.
The Return to School Form (Low Risk) must be completed and submitted prior to the return to school. You do not need to attend the Health Office.
The child will not be permitted to return to school until the child’s results for the PCR are obtained and shared with the Health Office. It is not necessary to get a PCR test for the siblings unless they also have any symptoms listed above.
POLICY CONTINUES ON PAGE NO.2
Amended September 2022
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NEGATIVE PCR RESULT
If the result is negative the child can return to school so long as they are symptom-free for 24 hours.
POSITIVE PCR RESULT
If the PCR result is positive, the child should isolate for a 5-day period and provide a DHA Clearance Certificate after isolation has ended. If the result is positive, any Close Contacts* (which includes siblings) will be notified that they are a Close Contact, but they do not need to quarantine. If a Close Contact develops symptoms, then they must do a PCR test and remain in isolation until the results are received. We recognize that it may be difficult for a parent/child/sibling to isolate for 5 days (e.g. it is unreasonable to expect a young child to remain in isolation by themselves or for a positive parent to isolate from their young children). If isolation is not possible, we request that the any staff or student Close Contacts undertake a 5-day quarantine in these instances and must be symptom free to return. The Return to School Form (High Risk) must be completed and submitted prior to the return to school and you must attend the Health Office prior to starting school on the returning day.
* DHA definition of ‘COVID-19 Close Contact’: is a person who is exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case, within a proximity of one (1) meter or less, for a period of more than 15 minutes, with or without wearing masks, or who is in direct physical contact with the case (like hand shaking). This could be at work, in educational settings, at home, while using public transportation, etc. The exposure is considered if the interaction with the confirmed case meets one of the following: • • •
From two (2) days before the onset of symptoms in the confirmed case. From two (2) days of positive PCR test specimen collection date, for asymptomatic confirmed cases. During the five (5) days duration of the illness.
* due to the UAE experiencing high numbers of COVID-19 cases, as an extra precaution JESS may contact trace back 2 days for asymptomatic positive PCR results. This precaution will be risk assessed and reviewed on an ongoing basis.
** Jumeirah Health Office Hours: 7.15am to 3.00pm Tel: 04 361 9019 ext 101/103 Email: jjhealthoffice@jess.sch.ae
Amended September 2022
** Ranches Health Office Hours: 7.15am to 4.00pm Tel: 04 361 9019 ext 214/215 Email: healthoffice@jess.sch.ae
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