16^th December 2021

Dear Parent / Carer,

We are writing to you again to thank you for supporting our joint effort against Covid-19 and to wish you and your family an enjoyable festive break.

Schools have faced many challenges to support children and families.  They have worked tirelessly to keep children safe whilst continuing to provide quality education and we applaud their effort and dedication. Whilst this response may vary slightly from school to school, they are all working together for the benefit of the children in the city.

The emergence of the Omicron variant has given us a new challenge to keep our city residents safe. The Omicron variant is increasing at a fast rate and will likely become the dominant variant by the end of December. Therefore, we are setting out the steps we all need to take to help reduce the spread and keep ourselves and our loved ones safe over the holiday period.

Testing

Over the holiday period, we are asking all those over 11 years of age continue to test regularly. Lateral flow kits are available online or they can be picked up from chemists across the city. As well as testing twice weekly and before going to big social gatherings through the holidays - please do test at home before returning in January. Secondary aged pupils will also be provided with an onsite test when they return in January 2022.

Vaccinations

Please get vaccinated or boosted as soon as possible if you haven’t already done so to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Eligible residents are able to book their vaccine online or attend one of our drop in centres.  Being fully vaccinated, including the booster dose when eligible, is the best way of protecting yourself and others from symptomatic illness as a result of the Omicron variant.

Contacts of people with confirmed Covid-19

From 14^th December there has been a change in government guidance around contacts of a confirmed case of Covid-19.  Any double vaccinated adult or children between the age 5 years and 18 years and 6 months who are contacts of a confirmed case are strongly advised to take an LFD test every day for 7 days.

If you take an LFD test and the result is positive, you should immediately self-isolate to prevent you from passing the infection on to other people. You should arrange to have a PCR test. If this PCR test result is positive, you must self-isolate for 10 full days starting from the date the PCR test was taken. If this PCR test result is negative, you can stop self-isolating but you should continue to take your daily LFD tests.

If you are a contact of a confirmed case, it is also strongly recommended you minimise your contact with anybody who may be classed as vulnerable, to minimise the risk of further spread of covid19.

Individuals who are not double vaccinated are still required to self-isolate as per government guidance here.

We thank you again for your continued support and wish you all an enjoyable and safe Christmas.

Yours Sincerely

Matt Ashton

Director of Public Health

Steve Reddy

Director of Children’s Services