As you are aware there are regular updates on Coronavirus and it is important to follow the directions of health experts.

As it is inevitable that students and staff are in relatively close contact it is important that during this time, and at any time in fact, that students do not attend school if they are unwell. There are many people in our school community who have medical reasons that exposure to viruses and bacteria makes them very exposed to substantial health outcomes. 

It is also important to always practice effective hygiene practices. Details are outlined below.

We appreciate your support in these matters.

Based on our current assessment of risk and acting on advice provided by Catholic Schools NSW, the NSW Department of Education, the NSW Ministry for Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, please note the following determinations and directions for CEDoW:

PRACTISING GOOD HYGIENE

Communicating and maintaining good hygiene standards is the most effective way to reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading respiratory infections using infection control guidelines. Please refer to the infection control procedures which include a range of practical strategies to reduce transmission of infectious diseases. The school provides appropriate handwashing soap as hand washing is the single most effective way to reduce the spread of pathogens that cause respiratory disease.

We wish to reiterate the importance for those presenting with flu-like symptoms not to attend school. If a child presents to sick bay with flu-like symptoms, the student will be quarantined and parents contacted to collect the child immediately. We appreciate your support in these matters.

EXTENDED TRAVEL BANS 

Effective 1 March 2020 the Federal Government has issued a travel ban on foreigners coming to Australia from Iran. Consistent with the extension of the restrictions of those travelling from China (including Hong Kong & Macau), Australian citizens and permanent residents returning to Australia from Iran from 1 March 2020 are required to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. 

The updated advice from the NSW Government for parents and affected staff is:

• Any student or staff member who has been in, or transited through, mainland China (not just Hubei province) or has been in Iran is excluded from work, school or child care services for 14 days from the date they left mainland China or Iran (as the COVID-19 incubation period can be as long as two weeks).
• Any confirmed case of COVID-19 will be excluded until they are medically cleared to return.
• Close contacts of a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be excluded for 14 days since last contact with the confirmed case.
• Students and staff who have returned to Australia from mainland China or Iran more than 14 days ago and have shown no symptoms are able to return to school.

The NSW Ministry of Health has processes to identify any close contacts of cases confirmed in Australia. Advice about not attending school would be provided to these close contacts by the NSW Ministry of Health.

Schools should immediately report any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 to the CEO, and contact the local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055 to provide details so that the Public Health Unit can follow up as necessary.

OVERSEAS EXCURSIONS 

All overseas travel or excursions organised by schools and the system are now placed 'on hold' until further notice with any planned trips scheduled before 30 April 2020 not able to proceed.

Being 'on hold' means that principals and schools are now directed not to make any monetary payment or plan alternate or additional itinerary arrangements with 3rd party travel providers or agents until further notice. This includes suspending any planned schedule of payments that are expected of parents and students in relation to international travel plans until further notice.