If the person has symptoms

Self-isolate for 10 days if both of these apply:

• someone in your support bubble has symptoms of coronavirus and tested positive
• you have been in close contact with them since their symptoms started or during the 48 hours before their symptoms started

The 10 days starts from when you were last in close contact with them.

If the person tested positive but has not had symptoms

Self-isolate for 10 days if both of these apply:

• someone in your support bubble tested positive but has not had symptoms
• you have been in close contact with them since they had the test or during the 48 hours before they had the test

The 10 days starts from when you were last in close contact with them.

When to stop self-isolating

You can stop self-isolating after 10 days if you do not get any symptoms.

What to do if you get symptoms

Get a test to check if you have coronavirus on GOV.UK if you get symptoms while you're self-isolating.

If your test is negative, keep self-isolating for the rest of the 10 days.

If your test is positive, you must self-isolate for 10 days from when your symptoms started. If you still have a temperature after the 10 days, you must continue to self-isolate until your temperature is normal.

Domestic Abuse - Are you worried about anyone?

Now more than ever, we are being asked to look after one another.  If you suspect a friend or family member is being abused, then please encourage them to get in contact.

• If someone is in immediate danger and their life is threatened, they should dial 999 and we will get officers to them as soon as possible.
• Domestic abuse can be reported to us using our website - https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/. It’s easy to use and could be safer than calling.
• Anyone can webchat our staff easily via the website for help and advice without having to talk to someone on the phone.
• There’s also a list of local charities for anyone you think might need help - https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/your-options/domestic-abuse

Advice to support children with SEND

New advice has been published to enable you, as parents, to access support for children with SEND during the COVID-19 outbreak. These can be accessed in the Key Information / SEND area of the website.

Looking for support for children with autism:

https://resourcesforautism.org.uk/covid-19-update/

The NSPCC has created a number of resources to support parents and carers during this difficult time. Topics include:

• Talking to a child worried about coronavirus
• Parents working from home
• Children staying home alone
• Lockdown and separated parents
• How to cope with tantrums and other difficult behaviour

The advice can be found on the NSPCC website here: 

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/coronavirus-advice-suppport-children-families-parents/

Support for parents and carers about keeping their children safe online:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-children-safe-online/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-parents-and-carers-to-keep-children-safe-online

What action can you take

A UK wide campaign has been launched to provide clear advice on how to slow the spread of Coronavirus.

The most important thing individuals can do to protect themselves is to wash their hands more often, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water. Public Health England recommends that in addition to handwashing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, everyone should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport.

Watch this short NHS film for guidance:

Learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene from the e-Bug Project led by Public Health England:

https://e-bug.eu/

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.  

As always, if you have symptoms of a cold or flu, then there are measures you can take to stop germs:

• always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze.
• Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
• wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport.
• Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

Further information on what you should do if you are asked to self-isolate can be found here:

Latest information

• Updates on Coronavirus:  https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
• Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
• Public Health England blog:  https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/·        
• https://twitter.com/educationgovuk 
• https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk/

Department for Education Coronavirus Helpline

The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is now available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:

Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm (Monday to Friday)

                          10am to 6pm (Saturday to Sunday)

Closed on Friday 25th December, Monday 28th December & Friday 1st January 2021

More information can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public