CV&CC Update, 10th November 2020

CV&CC Update

Tuesday 10^th November

Situation Update

Prior to Monday’s events, student attendance last week remained above 92%, which is really very good. Nationally it was last reported as 87%. Due to the national lockdown and new government advice, four members of staff who are clinically extremely vulnerable are working from home. Otherwise, staff absence remains very low, currently entirely unrelated to covid, and therefore mostly single-day or short absences. To date, there has been one positive test of a student, which on PHE advice has led to the whole of the Year 9 bubble isolating, and 36 students from different years who travel on the CV01 school bus. There  have also been a total of eleven positive tests among parents or household members resulting in students self-isolating for 14 days. We continue to provide a broad, and largely normal, taught curriculum.

Local Rates

According to the NEU covid map East Devon has risen to 130 cases per 100,000; Broadclyst, Cranbrook, Stoke Canon and area has fallen to 127/100,000 which is around 14 actual cases; Pinhoe is up slightly from last week to 130, and Exeter to 138. The BBC, with slightly different dates, has 135 cases for East Devon and 145 for Exeter. So, most of these local figures are small increases, but remain below national averages. They would still place us firmly in the national “Medium” or lowest tier, although that’s a bit academic as we have a recorded case.

National Lockdown

Since last week, there has been revised guidance which has clarified many points. The most important points are

• Students and staff to wear face masks at all times except lessons, when eating, and when outdoors AND socially distanced. If you believe your child has a reason for exemption on the grounds of health or disability, please contact us.
• No trips, visits, or after-school clubs & activities
• No face-to-face meetings unless essential
• The restrictions will continue up to and including 2^nd December, although the government has made it clear that this could be extended if necessary

Guidance, for Reference

Schools: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-and-childcare-settings-new-national-restrictions-from-5-november-2020

…and: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools

Face coverings: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

Clinically Extremely Vulnerable: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

NHS Covid-19 App

• The new NHS COVID-19 app is available to download.It’s free and will help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) by supporting the NHS Test and Trace service.

The Basics (from the NHS web page)

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

• a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these symptoms.

If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus

1. Get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible.
2. Stay at home and do not have visitors until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test.
3. Please contact us ! [CVCC]

Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also stay at home until you get your result.