Latest News Back to news

Guidance on preventing the spread of virus 2019-nCoV
 

At Whitefield School, we follow the procedures and advice given by Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England (PHE). We have included below all relevant sources of information to inform you on the current guidance. The links are updated on daily basis and we strongly advise you to follow them regularly.

The latest information and advice for public is available here:

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

PHE is keeping updating a Q&A blog:

• https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/

Details about the PHE information campaign, including the poster and video message is available here:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-public-information-campaign-launched-across-the-uk

Guidance to assist professionals in advising the general public is available here:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-guidance-to-assist-professionals-in-advising-the-general-public/guidance-to-assist-professionals-in-advising-the-general-public

In schools/early years settings, you have an important role in reassuring families and signposting to relevant information
 

Please share and signpost to following general hygiene principles to help prevent the spread of any winter respiratory viruses:
 

• wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• avoid close contact with people who are sick
• if you feel unwell, stay at home, do not attend work or school
• cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin. See Catch it, Bin it, Kill it
• clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home and work environment
• if you are worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or another healthcare environment
• see further information and the Public Health England Blog

We are aware that many schools in Barnet have Chinese nationals among their students, and many of them are about to return from Chinese New Year holiday.

Please refer to the PHE advice for travellers from China, if in doubt. The advice is included in the links above and is as follows:
 

Travelers returning from Wuhan and Hubei Province
 

If you have travelled from Wuhan or Hubei Province to the UK in the last 14 days you should immediately:
 

• stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu
• call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the area
   

Please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus.

Travelers returning from elsewhere in China
 

If you have returned from elsewhere in China and you are not unwell at the moment, you do not need to self-isolate or be in a hospital. If you have returned from elsewhere in China (but not Macao or Hong Kong) to the UK in the last 14 days and develop symptoms of cough, fever or shortness of breath, you should immediately:
 

• stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu
• call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the country
   

Please follow this advice even if your symptoms are minor.
 

PHE doesn’t recommend home isolation for travellers from elsewhere in China who don’t have symptoms as listed above.