Afternoon All
COVID; The Process.
With this announcement I hope to be able to give you a ‘behind the scenes’ glimpse into the process we enter once a positive COVID case is reported at college. The amount of tracing and tracking, cross referencing, checking again, is often underestimated.
In view of its legal obligations, college cannot release the name of the student, no more than we can give out the name of a teacher or other staff member when a positive COVID case is reported. This being a very sensitive subject for all parents and staff members, a balance needs to be reached between the information which is being given out to parents generally and the information which cannot be given out. There is a fine line between factual information and how factual information is perceived. Different people react to information in different ways.
The Process.
The few sentences which go out in an announcement cannot do justice to the intense work which goes on behind the scenes. Fortunately, we have the right people, in the right place, at the right time.
When we get to know from public health (PH) or a parent, that there is a positive case at college amongst staff or students, our Covid Team (CT) immediately kicks into action, regardless of the time or the location. Last Thursday week we received information at 5.30pm that there was a case. Mr Moore, Ms. Domenici and a couple of others started working on the case finishing the first assessment at 9.00pm. This set the ball rolling for the information sharing with the relevant year groups at school and with the particular persons who were assessed as high risk., low risk were also informed. Last Wednesday evening we traced another case. Work started at 8.00pm finishing at 10.00pm.
After we have dealt with a case all staff involved meet, we review what had happened, what our roles were, how we reacted as individuals and use this information to see how we can and need to, improve.
I will not give you all the details, (I am saving those for the book!), but what happens at the first notice of a case is the following:
Step 1: All the necessary information on the whereabouts of the positive case is gathered and checked carefully.
- timetables for that day, or if needed other days;
- information regarding which rooms were use;.
- the positive case is interviewed;
- was there actually 2m distance during that lesson;
- how close was he to the teacher?
- did he spend any significant time with others that we do not know about?
- were students and the teacher wearing their mask?
- was there mixing of bubbles?
- class seating plans;
- groupings of students at break times;
- who did the student interact with during the break?
- seating on bus journeys etc.
No stone is left unturned.
These are checked again and if we suspect that the information needs to be cross referenced with a staff member, parent, or student, we do this. There is a lot of going back and forward.
A determination is made as to the students who were in close proximity (based on the above) with the positive case and these are considered as High-Risk. The rest of the students/ staff, who, although in contact with the positive case, do not tick the above check-list, are nevertheless considered as Low-Risk and are still considered in Step 2.
The above assessment is made with the health protocols in mind and where in doubt we contact the Health Department for confirmation of our assessment.
Step 2: Two announcements are sent.
- The first is to High-Risk students/members of staff.
- The second is to Low-Risk students/members of staff – typically the year group.
High-risk are advised not to come to college and stay in quarantine and that they will be contacted by PH. Low-risk are advised that there is a case in the ‘bubble’/class.
PH is sent all the details.
Below is a typical note we send out to parents/members of staff if we have a case.
Dear Mr and Mrs,
We have today been notified of a student in Year ‘X’ who has tested positive for COVID 19.
Having checked carefully through all the necessary information regarding timetables, class seating plans, groupings of students at break times, seating on bus journeys etc. we have concluded that ‘Y’ is high risk and should therefore not attend college at this stage.
We have sent all the information required to the Health Department who should be in touch with you to confirm details.
In the meantime, ‘Y’ is very welcome online.
If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to email or call Mr Moore, our COVID Liaison officer on 993 53569.
Here is where it can get more complex! Depending on the age of your child. In the case of a child aged 3-10 (up to Year 6) who is asymptomatic, high risk students do not need to go into quarantine. If your child is older then the boy does need to quarantine.
However, at SEC we strongly recommend that the High Risk student takes a swab test and that if negative, he can return to school.
There are many other variations on the above which are all covered in the PH guidelines and protocols which we strictly adhere to. A good starting point for these guidelines is
The SEC COVID team works after the case is identified and the cycle is only complete once the positive case is given the all clear and from the Health Dept. and only then may he or she return to college.
We have a robust system, have meetings when we think we can improve, or when something is flagged or suggested, and incorporate suggestions into the process.
Please avoid listening to, or basing your decisions on, well intentioned persons (and some not so well intentioned) who know the inside, ‘real’ story.
As I have said from the start, we will not second guess PH. If there is factual verified information, I will pass this on.
N Mac An Bhaird