Skip to content ↓

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Public Health England (PHE) is the body through whom all of the latest guidance and information is being produced and distributed.  Schools have been advised to include links to the resources rather than producing their own or downloading information produced by others.  This means that the latest information will be available through the links rather than schools needing to update already downloaded information as and when new information becomes available.

There are links to the latest resources guidance and advice contained at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China in December 2019.

Public Health England is working to contact anyone who has been in close contact with people who have coronavirus.

Read the latest information about the situation in the UK, along with guidance for what to do if you think you’re at risk.

Go to NHSUK/coronavirus for information about the virus and how to protect yourself. Use the 111 online coronavirus service to check if you need medical help.

The government has published its coronavirus action plan and expanded its public information campaign.

Number of UK cases and latest test figures.

Read Public Health England’s blog posts about its response to coronavirus and how it uses contact tracing to prevent the spread of infection.

 

We think it is important to make parents aware that the DfE are keeping schools up to date also.  As you would expect there are a great many similarities and duplicates in terms of links.

  
 

 
 

There is currently a daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Government Coronavirus action plan

This document sets out what the UK as a whole has done to tackle the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and what it plans to do next.

The action plan can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan

The document includes:

  • what we know about the virus and the disease it causes
  • how we have planned for an infectious disease outbreak, such as the current coronavirus outbreak
  • the actions we have taken so far in response to the current coronavirus outbreak
  • what we are planning to do next, depending upon the course the current coronavirus outbreak takes
  • the role the public can play in supporting this response, now and in the future

Current advice remains in place: No school should close in response to a suspected (or confirmed) COVID-19 case unless advised to do so by Public Health England.

The importance of hygiene

Personal hygiene is the most important way we can tackle COVID-19, especially washing hands more; and the catch it, bin it, kill it strategy for those with coughs and sneezes.

Please help us in sharing simple and effective hand hygiene messages.

https://twitter.com/NHSuk/status/1235112744917049346

Public Health England has a dedicated webpage with a range of posters and digital materials at:

https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/101-coronavirus-/resources

Sign up is quick, free and means you will be alerted as more resources are made available.

Department for Education Coronavirus helpline

On 02 March we launched a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:

 

Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)

Where to find the latest information

Updates on COVID-19:

Guidance for educational settings:

Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas:
 

These links are where we will all find the latest information and guidance and the information is updated at least daily.

On 03 March there was a Downing Street press conference which is available at  https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-at-coronavirus-press-conference-3-march-2020