Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your prompt action in implementing the changes announced in my message last night.

We've had further discussion today with NSW Health to clarify how to best implement the exclusion of staff and students who've been in greater metropolitan Melbourne, Mexico, Panama, USA, Canada and Japan.

As previously advised, children who have travelled to these locations will be required to stay away from school for seven days after their return to NSW.  It is important that we take this advice seriously and make sure we follow it in all our schools.

If there are other members of the family who DID NOT travel with the child to the locations I've mentioned they can continue to go to school.

These arrangements also apply to the Department's preschools.

NSW Health advises that anyone returning from one of these locations who develops flu-like symptoms should seek medical advice.

NSW Health has this afternoon advised that school staff returning from travel to greater metropolitan Melbourne, Mexico, Panama, USA, Canada and Japan should be treated a little differently.

If a staff member has been to one of these locations and has been mixing with local school children (in a group of 10 or more) then they should be excluded from school. Principals should make every effort to enable these staff to perform some work from home during their exclusion.

If the staff member has not mixed with a group of 10 or more school children then they may return to school, but be excluded if they develop any influenza-like symptoms.

This updated advice from NSW Health is based on an assessment of the current risk of transmission.

If a member of staff at your school is currently excluded from school because they have travelled to one of the infected locations, but have not mixed with a group of 10 or more local school children, they may now return to school as long as they are not displaying any flu-like symptoms.

If they have been directed into quarantine by NSW Health (for example because they were on a cruise ship where human swine flu cases have been recorded) they must complete the quarantine period.

If a member of staff is sick with any influenza-like-illness, regardless of where they have been, they should use sick leave and not attend school until their symptoms have fully resolved.

For advice on how to manage a situation at your school, please contact the Occupational Health and Safety Directorate on 9266 8958 or email influenza@det.nsw.edu.au.

Please make arrangements for this updated information to be provided to all staff, parents and carers as soon as possible.

Thanks again for your continuing cooperation.

With my best regards, 

Michael Coutts-Trotter
DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF TAFE NSW
4 June 2009