Executive Director’s Update to Principals #25: COVID Update - 17 October 2022
Changes to Pandemic Orders & Easing of Requirements.
As we communicated in the last update (# 50 – 12 October 2022), the Victorian Government has announced the end of the pandemic declaration and associated pandemic orders. This change also saw an easing of masks and isolation requirements, becoming strong recommendations.
An updated CECV School Operations Guide is now available. The School Operations Guide: Term 4, 2022 (17 October 2022) has been significantly reduced considering the end of the pandemic declaration and associated orders.
Included in the revised Ops Guide:
- COVIDSafe measures for schools: continue to implement important practices to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission
- COVIDSafe Plan: Schools must keep their COVIDSafe Plan in place, which should be regularly reviewed and updated as required.
- Ventilation: continue to direct enquiries to airpurifier@macs.vic.edu.au.
- Vaccinations: Vaccination is no longer mandatory, however staff and students are strongly recommended to keep up-to-date with all recommended and available COVID-19 vaccinations
- Rapid Antigen Testing: It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff when symptomatic. Positive results for staff and students should be reported to the school. Principals (or their delegate) should continue to provide weekly case numbers to DOBCEL at covid@dobcel.catholic.edu.au.
However, schools are not required to inform their school communities of positive cases. All RAT stock should be used or sent home with students by the end of Term 4, 2022.
If schools wish to stop RAT deliveries during Term 4 or request additional stock, contact the Schools Procurement Branch. Schools that have surplus RATs that they cannot distribute to their school community should also contact Schools Procurement Branch for advice. - Face Masks: Staff and students who wish to wear face masks should be supported to do so, and schools should continue to make face masks available for staff, students, and visitors. Face masks are strongly recommended for close contacts if leaving home and for 7 days after returning a positive test if leaving home.
- Infection Prevention and Control: Continue to practice good hand hygiene, noting staff should direct or supervise young children where required.
- Management of Suspected Cases of COVID-19 in Schools: Anyone who is symptomatic should be recommended to undergo testing. Schools should seek to have symptomatic students collected from school and kept at home until no longer symptomatic.
- Management of Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Schools: The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive to COVID-19 report that result to their employer, school and household. Students and staff who test positive are strongly recommended to isolate for 5 days. Refer to the Ops Guide for more information on notification and leave guidelines.
- Students who may be Medically-At-Risk: Schools must ensure students with medical needs have an up-to-date Student Health Support Plan and accompanying condition-specific health management plan.
In all other cases, where there is no specific advice in the School Operations Guide, usual practice should be resumed. In the case of camps, excursions and other planned events the schools should conduct a risk assessment and speak with their Education Consultant for advice where required.
We will continue to share localised and general advice regarding the ongoing weather and flood events as required.
Next COVID Update
We would like to acknowledge the outstanding effort you have made as leaders within your schools to ensure that our schools have remained open for face-to-face learning and teaching. Many thanks for all you are doing to keep our schools safe.
We will continue to monitor the situation and advise Principals of any updates. Please liaise with the COVID-19 Support team (see left hand column) or your Education Consultant with any questions or concerns.
Stay safe and continue to look after each other…
Every blessing.