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9. Dealing with a suspected case of Covid-19 

Staff or pupils should not attend school if displaying any symptoms of Covid-19. The following outlines how Tullamore ETNS will deal with a suspected case that may arise during the course of work.

What to do if a child suddenly feels unwell or develops symptoms of Covid-19

If a child develops any of the following symptoms, cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, the following procedures will be implemented —

1. Alert the Covid-19 Response Team immediately via the dedicated What’s App group – Suspected Covid-19.
Name the child so that the parent or guardian can be contacted immediately.

2. The child will carry their own coat and bag and will be accompanied to the designated Isolation Room via the one-way isolation route. Please ensure that a 2 metre distance is maintained.
Main Isolation Room – Cathy’s old office
Back Up Isolation Room – Communications Room (between Cathy’s Office and the Hall)

3. A mask will be provided for the child and the staff member will remain at least 2 metres away from the symptomatic child whilst also wearing a mask/face shield.

4. The staff member should be aware that it is essential to avoid touching their own nose, mouth, eyes while caring for a symptomatic child and to perform hand hygiene.

5. A member of the Covid-19 Response Team will escort the child to the Isolation Room.

The alerting staff member must ensure that the text containing the child’s name is deleted from the group.

6. An assessment will be made as to whether the child who is presenting with symptoms can immediately be brought home by their parent or guardian, who will call their doctor and continue self-isolation at home.

7. The parent or guardian will collect the child from the door leading to the yard from the isolation room.

8. If the child presenting with symptoms cannot be brought home immediately, the school will facilitate their remaining in isolation and will assist them in calling their doctor.

9. The child should avoid touching people, surfaces and objects. Advice should be given to the person presenting with symptoms to cough or sneeze into the disposable tissue provided and place the used tissue into the waste bag provided.

10. When the person is well enough to go home, they must be transported by a family member and should be advised to inform their doctor by phone of their symptoms. Public transport of any kind should not be used.

11. If they are too unwell to go home or advice is required, contact 999 or 112 and inform them that the sick person is a Covid-19 suspect.

12. Arrangements will be made for appropriate cleaning of the isolation area and work areas involved.

What to do if a staff member suddenly feels unwell or develops symptoms of Covid-19

If a staff member develops any of the following symptoms, cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, the following procedures will be implemented:

1. Alert a member of the Covid-19 Response Team immediately.

2. Go straight home without delay and contact your GP.

3. Whilst exiting, remain 2 metres away from others and use a face covering.

4. If there is reason to wait for collection, please do so in the designated isolation room.

5. Arrangements will be made for appropriate cleaning of the isolation area and work areas involved.

The HSE will inform any staff/parents who have come into close contact with a diagnosed case via the contact tracing process. The HSE will contact all relevant persons where a diagnosis of COVID-19 is made. The instructions of the HSE should be followed and staff confidentiality is essential at all times.