Dear Parents/Carers
Since Christmas, there has been a sharp increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in St Joseph’s, which has affected both pupils and staff. As always, we will continue to alert you if there is a positive Covid-19 case in your child’s class.
In some classes, there has been a cluster of cases, which is defined as 20% of the class testing positive within 10 days of the first case. If this threshold is reached, you will be informed by letter, and your child asked to undertake a lateral flow COVID test (LFT) at home before coming back into school.
As the self-isolation and testing policy and guidance for both cases and close contacts is continually reviewed and updated, please refer to NI Direct to ensure that you are accessing the most up to date information:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-self-isolating-and-close-contacts
Responsibility for the identification of close contacts in primary schools remains with the Public Health Agency. The definition of a close contact in a school setting can be accessed here:
https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/covid-19-coronavirus/information-schoolscolleges-universities-and-parents/contact-tracing-0
As well as Covid-19, we are also experiencing the usual range of winter sickness at this time of year. If your child is sick or feeling unwell, please do not send him/her into school, but allow for the proper period of recovery at home.
Kind regards
Mr Donaldson