COVID-19 Update 13th March

Dear Parents,

There are three updates in this letter:

1. Four more countries have been added to the school’s high-risk category
2. Temperature scans
3. Some of our parents did not receive our COVID-19 letter dated 12^th March. This problem has been solved. You can see this letter here.  

High-Risk Countries

In its briefing today, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) announced additional places to those we have already listed on our website as high-risk countries. We will be adding these countries to the second level of our high-risk list: Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the UK. If you travelled from / transited through or been in close contact with someone who has travelled from / transited through these places, you are subject to a 14-day self-quarantine. Please contact the Primary or Secondary Office if your child(ren) need to be quarantined.

Just a reminder of our already established procedures:

• Level 1 – Territories outside the Kingdom of Thailand defined as ‘Disease Infected Zones of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak’ announced in the Royal Gazette on 5^th March. These include Mainland China, Macao, Hong Kong, South Korea, Italy and Iran which are considered to be dangerous for the spread of the virus. From 6^th March 2020, people who have travelled from / transited through these places have to go mandatory quarantine and report electronically every day to the MOPH for 14 days. If they develop any symptoms, they have to go into a government organised quarantine.

• Level 2 – Places that are on the school’s list of high-risk countries. These places are:  

From 13^th March at noon

Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the UK

From 6^th March

The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the US

From 2^nd March

Germany and France

From 26^th February

Iran and Italy

From 21st February: 

Mainland China, Macao, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore

If you or a member of your family has travelled from / transited through or been in close contact with someone who has travelled from / transited through these places, your children are subject to a 14-day self-quarantine. Please contact the Primary or Secondary Office if your child(ren) need to be quarantined. Children on self-quarantine will be expected to participate in continuous learning.

Temperature Scans

With the continuing addition of more countries to our high-risk list, we have decided to modify the previously announced temperature monitoring procedures:

1. Temperature checks should be done at home before you send your child(ren) to school because if they do have a fever, you can keep them at home. Taking your child(ren)’s temperature at home also enables you to monitor any changes daily. A reminder to also monitor any of your staff who accompany your children to school, to make sure they are well.
2. Temperature scans will be done for all people when entering the campus. Please note the Sports Hall gate will be closed in the morning but open for exit only in the afternoon.
   1. Children who have a temperature of 37.5^OC or higher and are with their parents will be asked to return home.
   1. Children arriving on the school bus or other transport without their parents will be taken to the nurse, the school will phone their parents to arrange for the child(ren)’s return home. Parents should check the child(ren)’s health and ensure they are healthy before returning to school.
   1. Adults who have a temperature will not be allowed to enter the school.
3. Our teachers monitor the students in their classes. If there are any signs that a student is unwell, the student is sent to the school nurse immediately.

If you need to enter campus between 8.30am and 2.00pm, only use the main gate. All other gates will be closed for entry.

Songkran Holidays and May Long Weekend

Just a reminder for the upcoming holidays:

• For the Songkran holiday and the long weekend in May, we suggest you avoid travelling to high-risk countries. This will include any countries added to the list by the date of your travel/return. If you do visit one of these countries or come into close contact with someone who has, your child(ren) will be subject to a 14-day self-quarantine.  Note that other countries may be added while you are on holiday, making them also subject to quarantine.
• Our advice would be to take Songkran holidays in Thailand if at all possible.

This is particularly applicable for those families who have (a) child(ren) about to undertake the (I)GCSE or IB exams where dates are set externally.

Summer Holidays

We remain hopeful that the COVID-19 situation will dissipate over the next few months. However, we would like you to please consider the following points with regards to planning for summer holidays:

• If you are travelling outside of Thailand, please ensure you have a flexible return date;
• Avoid visiting any of our high-risk countries;
• Be cognisant that as the situation evolves, other countries may be added to the quarantine list.
• You may need to adjust your return date to ensure your family can clear any quarantine requirements before the commencement of term. Your child(ren) will not be able to return to school until the quarantine has been fulfilled.

We are regularly communicating to you as our primary concern is the safety of our community.

Best wishes,

Senior Leadership Team

Bangkok Patana School COVID-19 Procedures