To ensure the continued health and wellbeing of our students, staff and school communities, the following update is provided in relation to COVID-19 (previously referred to as Novel Coronavirus). This information has been provided by Catholic Schools NSW in consultation with NSW Departments
of Education and Health. The following recommendations should be followed in both our NSW and ACT schools.

• Effective 1 March 2020 the Federal Government has issued a travel ban on foreigners coming to Australia from Iran. Only Australian citizens and permanent residents coming from Iran will be allowed entry to Australia and from 1 March they are required to self-isolate for a period of 14 days
  after departing Iran consistent with the restrictions for those entering from China. Additionally, Australians have been advised NOT to travel to Iran.

• The updated advice from the NSW Government for parents and affected staff is:
   Any student or staff member who has been in, or transited through, mainland China (not just Hubei province) or has been in Iran is excluded from work, school or child care services for 14 days from the date they left mainland China or Iran (as the COVID-19 incubation period can be as long as two weeks).
   Any confirmed case of COVID-19 will be excluded until they are medically cleared to return.
   Close contacts of a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be excluded for 14 days since last contact with the confirmed case.
   Students and staff who have returned to Australia from mainland China or Iran more than 14 days ago and have shown no symptoms are able to return to school.
• 
  The NSW Ministry of Health has processes to identify any close contacts of cases confirmed in Australia. Advice about not attending school would be provided to these close contacts by the NSW Ministry of Health.  Parents  should report any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 to Philippa Brearley and contact the local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055 to provide details so that the Public Health Unit can follow up as necessary.
• Consistent with our current guidelines, staff and students unwell with respiratory illness should remain at home until symptoms resolve. Further information on COVID-19 is also available from NSW Health.
  
  
• Below is a link with  some FAQs that may be worth referencing.
  Principal_FAQs_Novel_Coronavirus_COVID_19_1_March_2020_CSNSW1_002_.pdf https://holytrinitypscurtin.schoolzineplus.com/_download/media/6173/principal_faqs_novel_coronavirus_covid_19_1_march_2020_csnsw1_002_.pdf

  Teachers will be reminding students about the importance of washing hands carefully and we ask that you please reiterate this at home. Please do not hesitate to contact me is you have any further queries.