03 September 2009
To help slow the spread of swine flu, parents in Jersey are being reminded that children should not return to school until they have been back in Jersey for 48 hours if they’ve just been on holiday, or travelled through an airport, in the UK or France and some other destinations with direct routes to Jersey (see below).
Schools are opening as planned on Thursday 3 September but the Deputy Medical Officer of Health is advising parents to keep children off school as a precautionary measure.
It means that children returning to Jersey from or through areas with more swine flu on Tuesday 1 September should not return to school until Friday 4 September. Those returning to Jersey on Wednesday 2 September should stay away from school until Monday 7 September.
The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Deputy James Reed, said: "My department is working closely with Public Health. We understand that some people will be adversely affected by the implementation of the 48 hour rule but the reason we are doing this is to slow the spread of swine flu and protect against school closures in the future.”
As during the summer term, this advice will continue to apply to children returning during this school term from school trips, or independent travel.
Director of Education, Sport, and Culture, Mario Lundy, said: “We have contacted schools about the 48 hour rule and they are aware that it will remain in place for the autumn term unless advised otherwise. Our prime concern is to protect the health of students and staff, while minimising disruption to teaching and learning.”
The 48-hour rule applies only to school children and not to adults, so no adult need stay off work on their return to Jersey for health reasons – unless they are unwell with flu symptoms.
Anyone who has a fever (usually with a temperature 38 degrees or more) and flu symptoms should stay at home and call their GP, or use the new flu clinics set up by GPs. It is important that people do not go to A&E or direct to their GP’s surgery as this risks spreading the virus into the hospital.
The flu helpline, which provides general information for the public, is open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm and the number to call is 445566. Anyone needing medical advice will need to contact their GP.
List of Countries (subject to review as the situation changes)
Europe:
UK mainland (including travelling through UK, not including Channel Islands)
France (including travelling through France)
Germany
Portugal
Spain and Balearic Isles (Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza)
Outside Europe the following countries are currently most affected:
Australia
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Malaysia
Mexico
Paraguay
Peru
Thailand
US
gov.je