Update Covid-19: Advice to all students, parents and carers 22/10/2021
Dear students, parents and carers
I last emailed you on Friday 15/10/2021 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
- October half-term
- 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.October half-term
Students should continue to test twice-weekly over half-term and conduct a home test the night before you return to College after the break. Please make sure that you have sufficient home test kits to use during the break.
4. 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) | 246 |
Thank you for your continued positive support and I wish you all a relaxing half-term break.
Kindest regards
Laurence Frewin
Principal and CEO
South Devon College
College Home Test Result Reporting Form
NHS Test and Trace Form
Reporting your Positive PCR Test Result when College is closed
Testing after your isolation period has ended
If you have tested positive by PCR for COVID-19, you will probably have developed some immunity to the disease. However, it cannot be guaranteed that everyone will develop immunity, or how long it will last. It is possible for PCR tests to remain positive for some time after COVID-19 infection.
Anyone who has previously received a positive COVID-19 PCR test result should not be re-tested within 90 days of that test, unless they develop any new symptoms of COVID-19.
If, however, you do have an LFD antigen test within 90 days of a previous positive COVID-19 PCR test, for example as part of a workplace or community testing programme, and the result of this test is positive, you and your household should self-isolate and follow the steps in this guidance again.
If it is more than 90 days since you tested positive by PCR for COVID-19, and you have new symptoms of COVID-19, or a positive LFD antigen or PCR test, follow the steps in this guidance again.