14th January 2022
Update Covid-19: Advice to all students, parents and carers 14/01/2022
Dear students, parents and carers
I last emailed you on Friday 07/01/2022 with all the current Covid information and updates. This link will take you to the Covid-19 section of the college website where you will find all the information and resources you need from the College.
Please see below for the current and most important information.
- LFD testing
- Confirmatory PCR tests to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow device (LFD) test results
- Self-isolation periods
- Close contacts of a positive Covid case
- Those previously considered clinically vulnerable
- January examinations
- Face Coverings
- Reporting COVID-19 Cases: Latest data
1. LFD Testing
Students should please keep testing every Wednesday and Sunday evening after 6pm. Test kits can be collected from either Level 1 or Level 3 Receptions at any time.
Students must also share their results with the College via the Covid test results form, as soon as possible after a test, so that if positive, the College can monitor any localised ‘outbreaks’. The SDC COVID results reporting form is quick and easy to complete and should take less than a minute.
Links are also easily available on SDConnect and the College website.
Even if someone has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, they are strongly encouraged to take part in LFD testing.
2. Confirmatory PCR tests to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow device (LFD) test results
Lateral flow tests are taken by people who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. People who receive positive lateral flow device (LFD) test results for coronavirus (COVID-19) will be required to self-isolate immediately and won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.
If anyone has any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, they are strongly advised to take a PCR test, not an LFD test. If someone with symptoms has already taken an LFD test for any reason and the result is positive, they do not need to take a follow-up PCR test.
3. Self Isolation Periods
From Monday 17th January 2022, people will be able to leave isolation after negative lateral flow tests on days five and six. The day symptoms begin or you test positive is day zero. The next day is day one of your isolation period.
You can take your first test on day five. If it is negative, you can take another test 24 hours later on day six. Assuming this is also negative – and you do not have a temperature – you can immediately leave isolation.
The rules apply whether you are vaccinated or not.
4. Close contacts of a positive COVID case
People who are fully vaccinated, or children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months, identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should take an LFD test every day for seven days and continue to attend College as normal, unless they have a positive test result or develop symptoms at any time.
5. Those previously considered clinically vulnerable
Students previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) and high or higher-risk are not being advised by the Government to shield.
6. January Examinations
Examinations and assessments in January will go ahead as originally planned. Following the temporary reintroduction of face coverings in classrooms, the public health guidance to support exams was updated on Sunday 2 January. This guidance sets out that the Department for Education would not ordinarily expect candidates and invigilators to wear face coverings during exams and assessments, but only on arrival and departure. Both candidates and invigilators may wear face coverings if they wish to do so. This guidance is also applicable for mock exams and other assessments taking place under exam conditions or similar.
7. Face Coverings in January
The wearing of face coverings in communal areas of College for students, staff and visitors will carry on in January 2022.
From Sunday 2 January, face coverings are also to be worn in classrooms and workshops (all teaching areas). This does not apply in situations where wearing a face covering would impact on the ability to take part in exercise or strenuous activity, for example during sports lessons and physical activity or where an individual has a valid exemption.
Teachers are not expected to wear a face covering whilst teaching students if they are at the front of the class. This will be kept under review.
8. 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: 73 (Total confirmed positive cases reported in the last week) |
| Total cases: 543 (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) |
Thank you for your continued support and commitment.
Kindest regards
Laurence Frewin
Principal and CEO
South Devon College