Coronavirus
As a provider of high quality childcare we take health and safety very seriously. With this in mind we have put together information based on Public Health England advice regarding coronavirus (COVID-19).
The UK Chief Medical Officer has set the risk to the public as moderate. The risk of contracting the virus is very low with very few cases in the UK compared to the number of those tested.
We are working closely with our nursery managers, local authority and taking advice from Public Health England to introduce internal procedures to best manage the current risk and ensure we are prepared in the event of spread in the UK or a link to one of our nurseries.
We asking all staff, parents and visitors to be aware of the symptoms of Covid-19 (Coronavirus), a high temperature (fever), a cough and shortness of breath however, these are common symptoms of other illnesses such as cold and flu. Having these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have Covid-19.
How to reduce the risk?
Parents, staff and visitors can minimise the risk of catching Covid-19 (Coronavirus), by practicing good hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap, especially before eating or handling food, after toilet visits, or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, and to discard the tissue immediately into a bin.
We ensure our environments are cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis
Limit the sharing of food/ drinks/ utensils, toothbrushes or towels with others
We ensure supplies of hand soap, tissues, and paper towels are available
Use antiviral wipes or gel when handwashing is unavailable
Use hand sanitiser upon entry to nursery
What action to take if symptoms develop?
Contact NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk
If you have travelled to an area affected by Coronavirus and have the above symptoms, call NHS 111 and follow their advice
If you are seriously ill, call 999
Do not attend your GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital, stay indoors and avoid close contact with other people
The World Health Organisation have said ‘While we are still learning about how COVID-2019 affects people, older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.’
If older children are curious or worried you may find the link below useful
Just for kids: A comic exploring the new coronavirus
Other Useful Links
Government advice on Coronavirus
Government advice detailing affected areas
DfE and Public Health guidance for Educational Settings on Coronavirus