On 11 October 2024 a “Public Health Alert” was released by NSW Health encouraging the community to stay alert for symptoms of gastroenteritis. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, headache, and muscle aches. Symptoms can take up to three days to develop and usually last between one or two days, sometimes longer. Hospital data has shown a significant rise in cases in recent weeks across the state.

As we begin Term 4, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to protect one another within our school community. 

Here are a few key steps to prevent the spread of the viruses that cause gastroenteritis:

1. To help keep our school community healthy, students or staff members with symptoms of Gastroenteritis should stay at home until 48 hours after their symptoms resolve.
2. Everyone should wash their hands thoroughly and regularly for at least 20 seconds using warm water and soap. While hand sanitiser can be helpful, washing hands is more effective!
3. If you are dealing with a suspected case of gastroenteritis, please wear a mask and gloves to prevent the spread.
4. If surfaces are contaminated, clean them as soon as possible with hot, soapy water, then disinfect them.