Media Release - Community seeding case identified in Guernsey 21.07.2021

Evidence of community seeding as Notre Dame pupil tests positive

A case of community seeding has been identified in Guernsey after a Year 6 child tested positive in the island yesterday. The Notre Dame pupil has not left the island in the last 14 days and has no known links to positive cases. They became symptomatic after the last day of term. Contact tracing is underway. If you suspect you or your child might be a contact, there is no need to call Public Health - please wait to see if you are contacted by them.

Anyone linked to the school that has not heard from Public Health, should carry on as normal, while continuing with good hygiene measures that are now common practice across the community.

Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink said: 'Instances of community seeding are to be expected as we adjust to living with COVID but our robust contact tracing measures along with our high vaccination rate means we are well placed to minimise onward transmission.

'It is worth noting that all schools have had additional safety measures in place since the start of the pandemic, including hand sanitising on entry and general good hygiene. We are incredibly grateful to all teaching staff and children across our schools for having adhered to this so responsibly.'

All Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 pupils at Notre Dame will be tested as a precaution. Parents of these pupils do not need to contact the helpline to book a test, they will be contacted directly with information on where and when to bring their child for testing. Pupils in Years 3 to 6 are asked to self-isolate until they have received a negative test result. Parents and other household members do not need to self-isolate at present.

Anyone else who is connected with the school and experiencing COVID like symptoms, no matter how mild, should follow the usual procedure of contacting the helpline on 01481 756938 or 01481 756969 to arrange testing.

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