Flu Season Guidelines For SIS Parents

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

As you know, we are now into flu season in Hong Kong. As a result, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) via the Education Bureau (EDB) has issued proactive guidelines for managing communicable diseases. 

In order that we can manage information and report back to CHP and EDB, we ask you to kindly take the following measures:

• If your child has a fever and/ or respiratory illness symptoms they should stay at home and recover.

• If your child is absent from school with sickness, please email absence@sis.edu.hk on the first day of absence stating your child’s full name and tutor group. Please also state the nature of the illness. If you have a doctor’s sick note, please attach this to the email.

• Keep sick children at home until symptoms have improved and the fever has subsided.  Then allow children to rest for at least 2 more days before returning to school.

Guidelines for preventing the spread of influenza.

It is incumbent upon all of us to prevent the spread of influenza.  To safeguard students’ health, parents are urged to maintain a hygienic household and remind students to observe personal hygiene and help to keep schools hygienic. 

Please remind your children to pay attention to personal hygiene and take the following  influenza-preventive measures:

• Provide children with handkerchiefs or tissues and remind them not to share towels or tissue papers with others.
• Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes; after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs; or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions.
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel or hand dryer. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, hand hygiene with 70 to 80% alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative.
• Cover your nose and mouth with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly.
• Please see this link for guidelines on the correct use of surgical masks. https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/460/19731.html.Children who present with a fever and/ or respiratory symptoms and require the use of a face mask, should not come to school. 
• Avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly if feeling unwell.

If students are unwell at school they must report to the school nurse. We ask parents to cooperate with the school by picking up your child, if it is considered necessary by the nurse. Students must sign out at reception if they are leaving school.  Please do consult your GP immediately.

We appreciate your support.

Kind regards,

Lucie Purves            Jeanette Hui

Vice Principal           School Health Professional at South Island School.