Close Contact Quarantining at Home Changes
Last Friday, 4 March 2022, Department of Health (WA Health) provided updated advice in relation to quarantine requirements for parents and family members of students deemed to be close contacts.
Parents and family members are no longer required to quarantine with a child who has been identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 positive case. This advice also applies retrospectively to any parents and family members who are currently in quarantine, subject to them adhering to all of the WA Health advice linked below.
One parent or caregiver may still need to miss work or work from home to care for their child while in quarantine. The rest of the household, including brothers and sisters, who have not been identified as close contacts, can attend work or school.
The household should adhere to the recommendations for careful symptom monitoring and other precautions noted in the attached information provided by WA Health.
The close contact must still quarantine.
If symptoms consistent with COVID-19 are experienced, symptomatic persons should get tested immediately.
Mask Wearing in Schools Reminder
- All staff members and students in Years 3 and above are required to wear a mask while indoors when at school. Teachers and staff are not required to wear a mask providing teaching or instructions to students; however staff are encouraged to wear masks even when teaching, where possible.
- The requirement to wear masks outdoors will be relaxed unless physical distancing is not possible. This includes travelling on public transport.
- Students in Early Learning Care Centres and Kindergarten to Year 2 are not required to wear a mask, but their teachers and support staff must continue to wear masks, where possible.
- Students in Years 3 and above in Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) are required to wear a mask indoors or outdoors where physical distancing is not possible.
- Common sense should apply regarding the colour and markings on masks, with staff and students asked not to wear masks that may contain inappropriate markings or designs.
- Students may be exempt from wearing a mask at school under the following circumstances:
- the student has a medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner confirming a physical, developmental or mental illness, condition or disability which makes wearing a face covering inappropriate; (medical certificates must be forwarded to admin@stdominics.wa.edu.au)
- when communicating with another person who is deaf or hard of hearing, where visibility of the mouth is essential for communication;
- when engaged in strenuous or vigorous exercise;
- when consuming food, drink or medicine, provided that they are seated at the time.
For more information on the high caseload protocols visit WA.gov.au.
Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding of the above measures. As information and directives change, we continue to take the necessary steps to keep our school community safe.
If you have queries or concerns regarding your child please contact me. If you have health concerns, please contact WA Health on 1300 316 555 or at PHOpsClinical@health.wa.gov.au.
Updated WA Health Close Contact Information Sheet
Leon Bolding
Principal