Reopening Plan Covid-19
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COVID-19 REOPENING PLAN 1 FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear ISF Community, I am delighted to welcome you to the new academic year and our return to campus based learning. While we are looking forward to a very purposeful year, our primary focus at this stage is to ensure that we can provide a safe environment for all members of our community. To that end, the school Reopening Plan outlined here requires every member of the school community to accept modifications in expectations, approaches and behaviour. The plan is designed to ensure everyone’s safety and the measures involved are required if we are to avoid a return to distance learning. This document is based on our best understanding of the current situation in Italy, evolving instructions from the Ministero dell’Istruzione as well as international best practice. While it is rooted in current advice, a developing situation means that we will all need to adapt as necessary. I know that I will be able to rely on your understanding and that we share a common ambition to maintain the continuity and the quality in student learning. Simon Murray PRIOR TO OPENING TESTING IN SCHOOL In keeping with best professional advice, the safe reopening of campus will require all staff and students to take a serological test for coronavirus. These tests will be carried out by pediatric specialist nurses on behalf of our scientific laboratory contractor, Bio Labor. The costs of these tests will be covered by the school. Test results will be provided within 24 hours. Testing will take place on the Junior School campus on August 31 and September 1 and 2. You will receive more detailed instructions regarding procedures and your allotted time slot shortly by email. In the event of a positive test, families will be contacted by the Italian health authorities (ASL) who will require a second swab test to be taken with a second test result provided 24 hours from that point. All test results will be held confidentially and individuals identified with positive test results will not be allowed on campus for 14 days. Any student who remains untested will not be allowed on campus. INDEPENDENT TESTING If you prefer to have the relevant tests done independently, then please use the information below. There are two different types of testing: the serological test and the swab test. The serological test is a test that looks for antibodies (specific proteins made in response to infections). If there is a presence of antibodies, this indicates an immune response after infection. Antibody test results are especially important for detecting pre- vious infections in people who had few or no symptoms. If you test positive to either IgG or IgM antibodies it is mandatory for the patient to call their family doctor and also the Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL). This local health authority will administer the swab test for free (to determine if the infection is active or if it was a past infection) within 24 hours from the serological test. Telephone numbers for the ASL Toscana: ASL Toscana centro (Firenze, Prato, Pistoia, Empoli): 055 5454777 ASL Toscana nord ovest (Pisa, Livorno, Lucca, Massa Carrara, Viareggio): 050 954444 ASL Toscana sud est (Arezzo, Grosseto, Siena): 800 579579 If you decide to get a swab test, this consists of inserting a 6-inch long swab (like a long Q-tip) into the cavity be- tween the nose and mouth (nasopharyngeal swab) for 15 seconds and rotating several times. The swabbing is then repeated on the other side of the nose to make sure enough material is collected. The swab does not measure our antibodies but it directly detects the presence of virus genetic material. 2 INDEPENDENT TESTING (continued) Swab test results are usually available after 5 days. If the test is a swab after a positive serological test, the results will be available within 24 hours. Depending on what kind of serological test, results will be available in 1 or 2 days. You should be aware that the agreement that the school has with the testing laboratory allows test results to be released much faster. If you decide to opt for independent testing, you will be required to take the test within 72 hours prior to your return to school. Families who already know that they will be returning late to school should contact the school nurse for advice. This is the list of where you can get privately tested in the Florence area, after calling and making an appointment: Ambulatori Misericordia Campi Bisenzio tel. 055.89411 / 342.9506677 Biomolecular Diagnostic (Firenze) tel. 055.570762 / 334.8459802 Istituto Prosperius (Firenze) tel. 055.50661 Istituto Fanfani (Firenze) tel. 055.4970324 / 055.4970486 / 055.4970636 Nuova Igea (Firenze) tel. 055.600546 / 055.6540501 / 055.4376697 / 055.701607 Istituto Ecomedica (Empoli) tel. 0571.99281 Lea Srl (Empoli) tel. 0571.543985 / 371.3547896 Istituto Ragionieri (Sesto Fiorentino) tel. 055.4200056 Synlabmed (Sesto Fiorentino) tel. 055.4211617 The cost for the testing is usually between €40 and €60 per test. If you require any further advice or assistance, please contact our School Nurse and COVID-19 Coordinator, Sofia Gori at [email protected]. In the event that you cannot be tested at school, or independently, please contact the school nurse. PROCEDURES FOR SUSPECTED INFECTION In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 within our school community, we will follow governmental in- dications and guidelines which include informing the Firenze ASL promptly. Particular guidelines for schools have not been published at this point, but once available, ISF will be obliged to follow these guidelines strictly. In the case of students exhibiting symptoms at school, we will proceed to quarantine the student with the School Nurse and will request immediate collection from parents. Following government instructions, we will collaborate with the local health authorities to track possible infection and inform families. Communication of possible contact and further quarantine will follow updated guidelines aimed at guaranteeing safety and privacy of families. The local health authorities will liase with affected families. SELF DECLARATION In consultation with other schools in our professional networks and following government guidelines, parents will be required to sign a declaration in order for their children to return to school. This will contribute to the safe reopening and ongoing safety for the entire community. You will find a digital copy of the Self Declaration form attached. In addition, hard copies will be available during testing. Please note that the forms need to be signed by both parents and returned to the school. 3 DAILY SCHOOL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS LIFE AT ISF All students (Foundation - G12) All members of the must wear masks* community will have indoors and in all their temperature taken circumstances where upon arrival to their social distancing is respective school not possible. campus. Students will be issued The school will be individual masks. Staff cleaned and sanitised will be issued with both on a daily and extensive visors and masks. basis. All members of the community will be en- couraged to wash and sanitise their hands on a regular basis. SCHOOL ROUTINES • If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection (fever, cough, cold), you MUST NOT come to school. • Upon daily arrival to school, everyone will have a temperature check using the thermo-scanner and/or hand- held temperature devices. • All students (Foundation - G12) must wear masks indoors and in all circumstances where social distancing is not possible. • Strive to maintain a distance of 1 metre, avoid large groups, and avoid any physical contact to respect peers and staff. • Wash your hands regularly with soap and use the gel dispensers** that are available throughout the school. Avoid touching your face. • As directed by your teacher, use the provided materials to sanitise your desk. • We encourage the use of outdoor spaces as much as possible, for teaching and learning, lunches, breaks, and physical education. *ISF will provide one EU-certified, washable mask per student and staff member. In the event the mask is lost, students and staff are asked to bring their own masks to school. ISF will retain a small supply of disposable masks for emergencies. **Gel dispensers are positioned in strategic points around school, as well as inside classrooms. SCHOOL CLEANING PROCEDURES • Additional cleaning staff have been employed for the intensified cleaning of the school facilities. The school campus will be sanitised routinely and completely at the end of each day. • The school will undergo a deep clean prior to the arrival of our students and staff at the end of August. • Sanitizing hand units will be available in classrooms, common staff areas and corridors. • At teachers’ direction students will clean their own immediate desk and equipment areas for the following lesson. 4 BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS For the safety of all, it is the expectation that all mem- bers of the ISF community follow the rules and regula- tions outlined in this protocol. We expect all students to behave in a safe and responsible manner in and around school at all times. The new Form Tutor system at the Middle/Upper School and classroom teachers at the Junior School will reinforce these general expectations and the new protocol for the return to campus in September. Whilst we expect everyone to support each other in sensible and positive approaches to behaviour there may be occasions when this is not the case. Students who do not follow the reopening protocol or indeed any of our agreed rules, will be requested politely by a member of staff to comply. Should they refuse or continue to behave in an unhelpful or unsafe manner then after this first warning they will imme- diately be asked to meet with the Vice Principal for Wellbeing for a discussion, which may also result in a conversation with parents.