COVID-19 Update (as at 13 August 2020)

College to reopen on Monday 17 August

SA Health has confirmed that Thebarton Senior College can reopen on Monday 17 August. This is because by Monday 17 August, all students and staff will have completed the quarantine or self-isolation period.

To make reopening the school run smoothly, each year level/group will start on a different day:

• Year 12 (Stage 2) and VET students will return to school from Monday 17 August
• Year 11 (Stage 1) students will return to school from Tuesday 18 August
• New Arrivals Program (NAP), Intensive English Language Program (IELP), Further Study Skills (FSS) and Certificate of English Proficiency (CEP) students will return from Wednesday 19 August

Previous Closure Information

Anyone who was physically present on the site of Thebarton Senior College (including students, employees and contractors) during the following dates must either quarantine or self-isolate for 14 days from the date they were at the site:

29 July
30 July
31 July

All close contacts have been contacted by SA Health and are quarantining in a medihotel in the CBD.

All casual contacts must self-isolate at home.

SA Health has confirmed that no other schools are affected.

If a staff member or student from another school attended Thebarton Senior College on 29, 30 or 31 July, and then returned to their own school, no further action is required by the school they returned to.

Only the staff member or student who physically attended Thebarton Senior College must self-isolate, unless SA Health has advised them directly of additional isolation requirements.

Please see documents below for more information:

Information for community members from SA Health - 9 August

COVID-19 Self-Quarantine Advice

Frequently Asked Questions - Thebarton Senior College Isolation

For further information, please also visit:

SA Government Emergency Declaration - Thebarton Senior College

SA Health COVID-19 Information

Helpful phone numbers

• SA COVID-19 Information Line - 1800 253 787 - offers local information and advice on general COVID-19 information for South Australians. Operates from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day.
• Communicable Disease Branch line - 1300 232 272 - provides information on immunisations and from medical officers.
• National Coronavirus Information Helpline - 1800 020 080 - provides information and advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) from an Australia wide perspective.
• SA COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line - 1800 632 753 - provides mental health support for people surrounding COVID-19. It is available to people to maintain their mental health and wellbeing.
• COVID-19 Relief Call Centre - 1300 705 336 - provides information and assistance with such things as personal hardship support, accommodation support for people unable to achieve self-quarantining and accommodation for emergency services personnel that are required to quarantine but unable to do so at home. People can also email www.housingrelief@sa.gov.au.
• Red Cross Telecross REDi service - 1800 188 071 - register for a free, daily phone call checking on the welfare of vulnerable South Australians in response to COVID-19.
• If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.
• If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech or communication impairment, contact National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.

We will provide updates as we know more information.

Dear students, parents and caregivers
As the situation in regard to COVID-19 continues to evolve, the department continues planning and operating in accordance with advice from SA Health to support the safety and wellbeing of staff, students and the broader community.

Current advice on self-isolation and staying at home
In-line with Commonwealth advice, students are required to self-isolate for a period of 14 days if:

• you have been diagnosed with COVID-19
• you have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• you have arrived from overseas travel from any country (as of midnight Sunday 15 March 2020).

Stay home if you are sick
It is important that students who are unwell stay at home and recover to avoid the spread of winter illnesses (not just COVID-19). If a student becomes unwell with flu-like symptoms, parents/carers will be contacted immediately.

Hygiene standards
Personal hygiene and the hygiene standards in our schools are critical to reducing the risk of infection. Remember to:

• wash hands regularly, particularly after using the toilet and before eating
• avoid spreading infections to others by staying home if you are unwell
• cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue

The department is working closely with SA Health to ensure we have access to the latest advice on how to keep our staff, our students and community safe.

You can also call the government's coronavirus health information line on 1800 020 080. The line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Kind regards

Eva Kannis-Torry
Principal
Wednesday, 18 March 2020