COVID-19 FAQS
Testing
The NSW Department of Education is recommending that RAHT tests continue to be used for home surveillance testing of staff and students if symptomatic.
COVID-19 positive cases
Any student who tests positive to COVID-19 is required to follow NSW Health requirements. Currently, the requirements are:
- isolate for 7 days following the positive test
- leave isolation after 7 days if no symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath)
- if there are symptoms after 7 days, then remain in isolation until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved
Students who receive a positive PCR or RAHT result must tell their school as soon as possible and follow NSW Health advice.
NSW Health has advised that once a person who has tested positive has finished their isolation, they do not need to self-isolate or undertake testing (RAHT or PCR) for 28 days unless symptoms reappear. Following these 28 days individuals should resume RAHT surveillance testing.
What is the definition of a household/close contact?
A household contact is a person who lives with someone who has COVID-19. Only household contacts are required by NSW Health to isolate for 7 days (unless the person has previously tested positive to COVID and ended their isolation for this in the past 28 days).
Any other individual that has contact with a COVID-positive person is not required to isolate but is advised by NSW Health to assess the level of risk of the contact and respond accordingly. This means any exposure to COVID at school or socially does not result in a person being a close contact.
Note: An authorised NSW Health contact tracer can direct a close contact to self-isolate. It is anticipated that this will not occur routinely.
What happens if a student is identified as a household/close contact? Can they attend school during their isolation period?
No. A student is no longer able to attend school through the use of RAHT if they are identified as a household/close contact. The exemption that was in place for students in 2021 under the Test to Stay Program was rescinded on 24 January 2022 and is therefore no longer available with immediate effect. Students identified as household/ close contacts are required to complete the 7 day period of isolation.
Visitors
Visitors are allowed on site. However, in response to a recent increase in COVID and flu cases we have made the following updates to manage risks:
- Masks are encouraged at indoor gatherings that include parents and members of the public,
- There is to be no shared food at community meetings and gatherings until further notice,
- Spacing of 1.5 metres at indoor community gatherings,
- Where possible, meet outdoors,
- All community members to stay off the school site if displaying cold or flu symptoms.
School activities
COVID-19 will be considered in all risk assessments in all schools. Guidance from AIS and NSW Health and Department of Education will be provided to schools on applying appropriate safeguards across a range of activities.
At Shearwater, we will be applying our own risk assessments to activities on a case-by-case basis.
Drop-off and pick-up arrangements
As far as possible, we would like to maintain the drop-off and pick-up arrangements that were in place in 2021. There is scope for parents to assist young children walking to and from their classroom but we would like to keep this to a minimum.
Drop-off times continue to be 8.30am to 8.50am and pick up at 3pm. If you are needing to drop off your child after 8.50am, please report to the Office in person. Alternatively, you can email attendance@shearwater.nsw.edu.au or call the Office on 6684 3223 and then have your child report to the Office on arrival.
If you need to collect your child before 3pm, please email attendance@shearwater.nsw.edu.au or call the office on 6684 3223 well ahead of time so we can have your child waiting at the Office for collection.