Self-isolating staff in school

[Stygimoloch]

Can anyone shed any light on whether my school are acting appropriately.

We’ve had a number of positive Covid cases among students and 3 staff members have been confirmed too.

A number of staff were identified as close contacts to the positive staff members and told to self-isolate. Two of these staff members were back in school after 2 days saying they had been tested and were negative. Those that are still self-isolating have been told by the school that they can get tested and come back if negative.

Is this correct? I was under the impression that you needed to self-isolate for 14 days regardless of a negative test and that you shouldn’t get tested anyway without symptoms.

Are the school allowed to do this?

No, that’s not right. From the guidance:

if someone who is self-isolating because they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) starts to feel unwell and gets a test for coronavirus themselves, and the test delivers a negative result, they must remain in isolation for the remainder of the 14-day isolation period. This is because they could still develop coronavirus (COVID-19) within the remaining days.

This is what I thought. Thanks @HipTightOnions. I’m finding it very worrying that this is what they are doing.

I would be worried too.

We have been unable to ascertain whether we will even be told if we have positive cases. Today I bumped into a member of staff who I know - but only through the grapevine - was isolating earlier this week. All very unsettling.

@HipTightOnions we are only being told if the Head has decided we are close contacts. I only know for sure because one of the close contacts is a close friend (she isn’t in school - she isn’t getting a test unless she has symptoms and is staying home for the 14 days).

I do understand the pressure to keep the school open but I do think it is risky. One of the contacts back in school is on SLG - a better example of following guidelines should be set.

They definitely have to isolate for the full 14 days. They shouldn’t be getting a test unless they’re symptomatic. People without symptoms going for a Covid test is part of he problem re the shortage of tests.

Yes they have to isolate for 14 days as the virus might still be incubating and not large enough in number to test for

What do I do to challenge this? Is it a union issue?

I would check what’s on your risk assessment ( it should have the correct information) and then contact the chair of governors. The governors are responsible for the risk assessment and if it’s not being followed then they need to know.

That is quite shocking. Perhaps raise with the Head before going to governors?

That is all sorts of wrong please pass up if you haven't already.
Call your union you will get a quicker answer there and they can have a word with the head if they need to. (Not your rep, someone higher up)

What happened OP - if you can say on here?