CORONAVIRUS

Please note that the new restrictions as available on the Health Department’s website alert the public to the revised actions that have been put in place for travellers leaving China or Hong Kong since the 1^st February. Only Australian residents will be permitted to enter Australia.

The 14-day isolation period is still in place for students returning from either China or Hong Kong during the Christmas holiday period. I would like to thank and commend our community for responding to the advice from Education Queensland and the Health Department in regard to self-isolation.

As a school, it is normal procedure for us to talk to children about hygiene to assist us to restrict the spread of any virus, at the beginning of each year and throughout the year as required. This happens more intensely before and during winter. I spoke to the children about the hygiene recommendations from the Health Department on our whole school assembly last week.

We will continue to remind students about hygienic practices during the health epidemic. At the time that I wrote this, Queensland still had two confirmed cases of Coronavirus at the Gold Coast and we have no information about any change to this information. The information from the Health Department suggests that masks will not assist in the prevention of the virus. Please reinforce with your children to wash their hands with soap frequently, cough into the inside of their elbows or cover their faces when they cough. Children should not share food or drink bottles at any time, and particularly now.

If you have kept your child home as a precaution against contracting the virus but you did not travel to China or Hong Kong, your child has unauthorised absences. Healthy children who have not been to China or Hong Kong, and who have not had contact with anyone who has, should be at school. Children who are unwell should always stay at home. I appreciate the level of parent concern but we must stay calm in these moments of crisis, and respond to facts, not fear.

Thank you to the parents who have contacted the school to have their concerns addressed, and at all times Warrigal Road State School responds to the needs of the community with responsibility and care for the children at our school.

We hope that this health crisis will soon pass and please see your doctor with any health concerns.

The Health Department site:

https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov

Over the next school term, City Council officers will be conducting patrols around your school to ensure safe parking. Parking fines may be issued in cases where illegal parking is observed. Parents and guardians and visitors of our school can visit Council’s website at www.brisbane.qod.gov.au and search parking rules to learn more about parking in Brisbane.

Di Carter