By Ibu Julie
As holidays approach I want to thank you for your support during Term 3 and to wish you some enjoyable family time during the break.
General COVID safety during the holiday
Make sure that all members of your family follow the basics:
Avoid gatherings, situations and places that do not have strong COVID-19 safety protocols.
If anyone in your household has any doubts about their health and COVID-19 (has symptoms; has been in contact with anyone COVID-19 positive; has been in an unsafe situation)
- stay at home to make sure that symptoms do not develop (14 days)
- seek medical advice about testing
- let the Head of School know
Air travel
Some parents have asked for some more specific guidance for travelling on planes, which we are happy to provide.
Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses don’t spread easily on flights. However, crowded flights make social distancing difficult. Plus air travel involves spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people.
If you travel, take steps before, during, and after travel to keep yourself and others from getting COVID-19 (CDC)
Before you travel please consider whether travel is essential at this time. If it is then you can prepare by:
- Having a well-fitting face mask that covers your nose, mouth and chin at all times. Pack a spare mask in a zip lock bag
- Taking a face shield
- Packing hand sanitiser (small) and surface wipes
At the airport
- Limit contact with frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails, elevator buttons and kiosks. If you must touch these surfaces, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands afterward.
- Clean your hands after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
- Keep your distance from others as much as you can.
On the plane
- Use a suitable hand sanitizer. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
- Keep your mask and face shield on. Refuse snacks when possible to avoid exposing your face.
- Wipe tables or don’t use them.
On your return
For international travel, follow the Indonesian quarantine and testing protocols on arrival in Indonesia.
Following a domestic travel (including to Bali after an international flight), we ask that your child reduces their contact with their classmates for long enough to make sure that they have no symptoms. According to the World Health Organization:
The incubation period for children is the same as in adults. The time between exposure to COVID-19 and when symptoms start is commonly around 5 to 6 days, and ranges from 1 to 14 days.
If any family members have symptoms or test positive, please stay home. Follow medical advice and inform the school.
(WHO; CDC; Mayo Clinic; Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia)
Please stay safe and well!