Colac’s Trinity College will be closed until Thursday after a student tested positive to COVID-19 yesterday.
The Department of Health and Human Services has ordered 77 senior students and some teaching staff to quarantine for two weeks, after the Year 12 returned a positive test. The case was a close family contact of a Colac meat inspector who tested positive on Friday.
There will be no on-site classes for Trinity’s Year 12 students during the next fortnight, and those students will revert to remote learning.
Cleaners have been at the school over the weekend doing a thorough deep clean.
See below for Trinity’s full statement
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Dear parents and carers,
As we previously advised, one of our students has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now at home in isolation with members of their family.
We have now been given approval to close the school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, re-opening on Thursday, July 23, which will allow for more contact tracing and testing to be completed.
Barwon Health’s contact tracing team has identified and spoken with anyone who has been in close contact with the student while they were possibly infectious. These people have also been asked to self-isolate to help limit the spread of the virus, even if they do not have symptoms.
As a further precaution, DHHS has informed us that 77 of our senior students and some teaching staff are to quarantine for two weeks. As a result, there will be no classes on campus for Year 12 students in the next fortnight and we will revert to remote learning for this group.
A deep clean process is taking place at our campus and we are confident it will be safe for all other staff and students to return later in the week.
While the recent cases are concerning for our community, this is a time for us to bind together and support those who are most vulnerable. Offer to provide support through dropping off supplies or stay in touch remotely. Please look out for each other.
It is important not to overwhelm our healthcare services, including Colac Area Health and GP clinics. Should you request a test, please understand if they ask you to wait as they are prioritising people who are close contacts or those who are displaying symptoms.
It’s more important than ever to practise physical distancing and wear an appropriate mask when this is not possible. For the good of our community, please maintain high standards of hand hygiene, continue working from home if possible, and get tested for even mild symptoms, including cough, fever, and sore throat.
If you have questions about symptoms, please refer to the Department of Health and Human Services website https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus or call Barwon Health’s hotline on 1300 942 241.
For mental health support:
– Speak to your family GP
– HeadSpace: www.headspace.org.au/eheadspace/ or 1800 650 890
– Call the Barwon Health Mental Health Triage line: Phone 1300 094 187 (24/7)
Please take all steps you can to keep our community safe and healthy.
Regards
Paul Clohesy, Principal