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Coronavirus: What schools in Medway are doing to help prevent outbreaks

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Parent hotlines and daily meetings of response teams are just some of the changes schools have made to limit the spread of coronavirus.

One school in Medway has had to close for a deep clean after it was confirmed one of its pupils tested positive for the virus.

St John Fisher School in Chatham closed its doors to allow for a deep clean
St John Fisher School in Chatham closed its doors to allow for a deep clean

St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School in Chatham was initially closed until tomorrow but now only Year 9 to 13 pupils will return then to the upper site in Ordnance Street, with the lower part of the site for Years 7 and 8 in Maidstone Road remaining shut until Monday "due to staffing issues".

According to government advice, schools which believe someone in the organisation may have the virus need to isolate the person immediately and call NHS 111.

If someone is suspected to have the virus within an educational setting and is waiting for their test results, the advice is not to close down or send people home.

However, if a case is confirmed, schools should be contacted by the local Public Health England Health Protection Team so they can discuss the case and identify people who may have been in contact with the person.

The PHE team should carry out an assessment and advise the patient and any of their contacts, and inform the school on the cleaning of communal areas.

In most cases, the school will not have to close but this will be coordinated by the school, taking in factors including the size of the school and pupil mixing.

Schools are also asked to call 111 if any pupils or personnel have recently returned from an affected area.

Medway Council has 28 local-authority maintained schools, including St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School.

Ward councillor, and leader of Medway Council's Labour group, Vince Maple said: "We’ve been informed of cases of coronavirus locally, which have been linked to the other confirmed cases in Kent.

"As ward councillors, myself and my colleagues have reached out to St John Fisher School to ensure they are getting the support they need at this difficult time.

"It’s reassuring that the school is doing everything within its power to keep pupils and their families safe.

WATCH: Cleaners arrive at St John Fisher School in Chatham to carry out deep clean

"Medway Council is following Public Health England advice, working with health colleagues to support the school, and has sent advice to council staff aimed at stopping the spread of the virus and ensuring the people of Medway are protected."

All of Medway Council's schools have been issued with government advice and directed to use a Department for Education helpline for education providers.

Many of the Towns' schools are managed by academies.

The Leigh Academies Trust manages Medway UTC, Strood Academy, Hundred of Hoo Academy, Stoke Primary Academy, High Halstow Primary Academy, Allhallows Primary Academy and Rochester Math School

Pupils at the Rochester Math School were issued advice after some of them took a trip to Italy in February half-term.

Academy spokesman Richard Taylor said: "As a Trust we have been working on our coronavirus contingency plans since we returned from the half-term break.

Rochester Math School, Maidstone Road. Picture: Google Streetview
Rochester Math School, Maidstone Road. Picture: Google Streetview

"This has included establishing a response team that has been meeting daily to review the latest advice from the various agencies and advise our school leaders accordingly.

"All staff have been given access to a dedicated information portal which covers the latest advice as well as frequently-asked questions which are updated daily.

"In addition to sending regular communications to parents confirming the latest situation we have also established a parent hotline which operates seven days a week so parents can raise questions or concerns and be sure that the advice they receive is accurate.

"With regard to preventing the spread of COVID-19 we have issued handwashing and hygiene guidance to all schools and this is now being promoted daily to students.

"We have also established more frequent routines for checking soap dispensers to ensure they are all working effectively.

"We have also changed our cleaning protocols temporarily so high contact areas such as door handles are anti-bacterial cleaned on a daily basis.

"Whilst all of our schools are currently free of COVID-19 we have been in contact with our cleaning companies to ensure deep cleans can be undertaken as and when necessary.

"Importantly we are also developing contingency plans to ensure that we are able to continue delivering education to our students online should we be required to partially or fully close by Public Health England."

The Skills for Life Trust runs Greenacre Academy, Walderslade School for Girls, Hilltop Primary and Warren Wood Primary.

Previously, KentOnline reported how three teachers from Greenacre Academy self-isolated after returning from a trip to Venice over last half-term.

Academy representative Frances Pardell said: "It’s education as usual at all of the academies in the Skills For Life Trust.

"We are following all of the official guidelines, reassuring parents and pupils should they have any queries.

"Health and safety have always been a priority at all of our academies."

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust runs Holcombe Grammar School, Rochester Grammar School, All Faiths Children’s Academy, Cedar Children’s Academy, New Horizon’s Children’s Academy, Gordon Children’s Academy and The Victory Academy.

Trust spokesman Finlay Morris said: “Across the Trust, we are ensuring that all our staff, pupils and parents are aware of the latest government guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19), understand how to protect themselves and what to do should they have any concerns relating to their health.

“All our academies are following the advice from the Department for Education and Public Health England for educational settings, which is constantly kept under review. This includes encouraging our pupils, staff, and wider school community to follow the general advice on regular hand washing and hygiene, as usual.”

Medway Council has advised residents to read the NHS' guidelines on the virus and a short questionnaire which can help advise people on how they can take action.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

To keep up-to-date with all the latest developments with your local hospitals and other health stories, click here

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

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