Dear Student/Staff/Parents 31 January 2020
I write to inform and assure you about the precautions we are taking at David Game College to prevent against the Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak.
The WHO has now declared the situation as a global health emergency.
We continue to monitor the situation regularly and are taking a dynamic approach to this complex and changing picture, following the advice of Public Health England (PHE) to ensure the health of students and staff. The latest update from the NHS can be found here: (www.nhs.uk/conditions/wuhan-novel-coronavirus).
As a policy, the College is NOT interviewing any students who arrive from mainland China (currently or in the foreseeable future) and we are insisting that no Chinese students should return to China over the half term (unless for emergencies). If they do, they must self-quarantine for 10 days on return and have medical clearance.
We are mindful that there will be concern regarding this situation and would like to assure you that we are assessing any potential risks on a daily basis. Based on the current evidence from WHO and PHE there is no immediate cause for concern, however we are taking the following precautions:
· Confirming whether any potential student or planned visitor to the College has been in China, particularly the Wuhan region, since the outbreak;
· Assessing and managing risk and monitoring health of any students or staff who have visited since the start of the outbreak, in accordance with PHE advice;
· We are accepting no visitors from China and affected regions until the outbreak is contained (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently advises against travel to Hubei Province).
· All staff and students have been briefed on the signs and symptoms of the Novel Coronavirus.
Any person who has travelled to or been in direct contact with anyone from a Novel Coronavirus affected area may be asked to remain at home to prevent the potential spread of the virus. Please inform us if you have come into direct contact with anyone who has travelled from a Novel Coronavirus affected area, via an email to: admin@davidgamecollege.com
Similarly, as half-term / reading week approaches, we ask that any student (or family member) who intends to travel to/from, or have direct contact with anyone from, a Novel Coronavirus affected area, to inform us immediately via an email (admin@davidgamecollege.com). Although we strongly advise against such travel/contact.
The wellbeing of all or students/staff is of the utmost importance at this time, especially those from China and other affected areas.
We will keep you informed if the situation and official advice changes.
John Dalton
Vice Principal
