All students, teachers and staff at Dellwood Middle Schools have been ordered to quarantine for 14 days, the education ministry said this morning.

The school closure comes at the direction of Chief Medical Officer Dr Ayoola Oyinloye based on an updated risk assessment by the Ministry of Health.

Dellwood teachers, students, and staff must stay home and away from other activities from 22 March 2021, until and including 2 April 2021.

The statement said: “The Ministry of Health directive includes not attending birthday parties, extra-curricular activities, social engagements, other places of employment, public places, public transport, grocery stores, etc. Non-essential visitors must not enter the home.

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Dellwood School Closure March 23 2021.pdf

“For children, the child’s main caregiver(s) and close contacts within the home, who cannot separate from the child (separate bedroom and bathroom, no common spaces), must also remain at home.

“Other household members, including brothers and sisters, who are able to separate from the child within the home are not required to remain at home unless your child is experiencing Covid‐19 symptoms or has a positive Covid‐19 test. All public health guidelines must be followed by these other household members inside and outside of the home.”

Dellwood previously had an exposure to Covid-19 on March 13 but was able to open after a risk assessment. It was forced to close in November last year due to a previous Covid-19 exposure.

The nature of the most recent exposure was not given. Yesterday a total of 41 positive Covid-19 cases was recorded and the number of active cases jumped to 106 - the highest since January.

Diallo Rabain, the education minister, said : “Regrettably the Dellwood school family is faced with another closure. The principal has met with staff to arrange remote learning.”

He said all students, teachers, and staff needed to be re-tested again on or after April 2 either through their family doctors or at a special clinic which is being organised.

He added: “The Ministry of Health further advises that once these test results are completed, the Ministry of Health will assess all test results. Negative test results by a particular child or teacher will not automatically mean release from quarantine. The Ministry of Health will inform the school and affected families on updates to the recommended public health measures.”

Below are links to infographics and for more information, visit https://www.gov.bm/coronavirus

https://www.gov.bm/sites/default/files/11984_COVID19_When_to_Quarantine%2811x17%29_0.pdf

https://www.gov.bm/sites/default/files/Quarantine%20vs%20Isolation%20Social%20Media%20%281%29.pdf