5th November 2021
Update COVID: Advice to all students 05/11/2021
Dear students, parents and carers
I last emailed you on Friday 22/10/2021 with all the current Covid information and updates. This link will take you the Covid-19 section of the college website where you will find all the information and resources from the College
Please see below the current most important information.
- Covid – advice received from Southwest Directors of Public Health for students and staff
- Covid Testing – students
- Reporting COVID-19 Cases: Latest data
1.Covid – advice received from Southwest Directors of Public Health for students and staff
We have been asked by Southwest Directors of Public Health to share the following information:
Southwest case rates have increased sharply against the national average and are expected to continue to rise. The majority of cases are in school age groups. There is evidence of this translating into adults of parent age. Over 60s rates are rising steadily. Hospital Admissions for Covid have also increased. In our local authority area, we are seeing rapidly rising infection and which is triggering thresholds that warrant additional action.
Enhanced mitigation measures are now required to prevent transmission, prevent school/college closures and to maintain appropriate levels of education.
Recommended measures from the Southwest Directors of Public Health for 14 days post half term to limit the impact of social mixing at half term are as follows:
- Daily LFD testing for all close contacts identified by NHS Test and Trace whilst individuals await their PCR results
- Continuation of twice weekly asymptomatic testing
- The wearing of face coverings in communal areas such as corridors when movement occurs between lessons.
We are encouraging all of our students and staff to follow this advice.
2. Covid Testing – students
Students are asked to conduct home testing on a Wednesday and Sunday evening after 6pm. Tutors will ensure that students have a constant supply of home testing kits. Test kits can also be collected by students from the ‘Student Space’ in The Street.
Please note students should share their home test results with NHS Test & Trace as soon as they have undertaken their home test. Students must also share their results with the College via the Covid test results form, as soon as possible after a test so the College can monitor any localised ‘outbreaks’. The College will be reviewing who completes this form, as well as the results, and keeping Public Health England informed of the numbers of students conducting home tests. The SDC COVID results reporting form is now even quicker and easier for students to report their results.
We will continue to constantly review our approach, following the latest government guidance and will adapt what we do accordingly. Please do whatever you can to keep everyone safe.
3. Reported COVID-19 Cases: Latest data
The table below gives the most up-to-date picture of COVID-19 infections at South Devon College in all areas.
| Weekly cases: (Total confirmed positive cases reported in the last week) | 16 |
| Total cases: (A running total of positive/presumed positive cases reported to the College by students and staff since the first case was reported on Wednesday 7th October 2020) | 275 |
Thank you for your continued positive support.
Kindest regards
Laurence Frewin
Principal and CEO
South Devon College