Covid-19 Infection Control Policy

• Symptoms
• How it is transmitted or spread
• How to reduce the risk of transmission
• Hand Hygiene
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Face Masks
• Social distancing 

Specific measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in our school

• Social distancing
• Staff’s physical contact with children
• Physical environment 
• Musical instruments and equipment 
• Enhanced COVID-19 cleaning schedules
• Fire evacuation 

Parents

•  Revised drop off and collection procedures
• Communication with parents/guardians

Actions to prevent adults and students/children with symptoms of COVID-19 from entering the service

• Staff: Health and Safety Authority return to work protocol
• Staff:  After returning to work
• Children: Child/student return to the school 
• Children/student: After returning to the school 
• Parents
• Visitors and Contractors

The incident plan where a student/child or staff member has or is suspected of having COVID-19 while attending the service

• Temperature testing
• COVID-19 testing
• Vaccination

Covid-19 Enhanced Risk Management Policy    

• Risk management and COVID-19
• Cleaning between classes
• Daily Risk Assessment
• Some of the areas of risk that will be included in the risk management process:
  • People
  • Activities
  • Environmental

Staffing  

•  Rosters
• COVID-19 staff induction training
• COVID-19 lead staff representative
• Staff breaks 
• Meetings
• On-going communication and support

Please note:

If you child is symptomatic/instructed to isolate but still well enough for a lesson, we will provide a zoom lesson, at the same time as the original lesson time.  This must be organized in advance with the teacher.  At any time you can request a zoom lesson in place of a face to face lesson if you feel worried.

If the teacher is symptomatic/instructed to isolate but still well enough for a lesson, we will offer a zoom lesson at the same time as the original lesson time.  If this doesn’t suit, an alternative time/lesson face to face will be arranged.  IF that is not possible, a refund will be given.

We hope it doesn’t happen but, if the school is instructed to close by the HSE, we will continue online until such time that we are allowed to open again.  We sincerely hope this doesn’t happen!!

COVID-19 Policy and Response Plan 

Name of the Service/School: Musica Fusion School of Music
Document Title: Covid-19 Policy and Response Plan 
Document Author: Susie Butler
Person(s) responsible for developing, distributing, implementing and reviewing Policy: 
Persons responsible: Susie Butler
Method of communication of Policy to staff (e.g. email, hard copy, induction training, sign off):    E-MAIL and Induction via zoom
COVID-19 Lead Staff Representative: Abby Ní Loinsigh
Method of communication of Policies to parents/guardians (e.g. via email, hard copy displayed in service):  E-MAIL, Facebook and parent Notice board 
Method of communication of Policies to children (e.g. posters, games, discussion, role modelling): By using posters.
    
The date the Document is Effective From: 14/07/2020
Updated document: 14/09/2020

Service/School  Name: Musica Fusion School of Music and Dance

Introduction 

The government has published a ‘Return to Work Safely Protocol, COVID-19 Specific National Protocol for Employers and Workers ’ which describes the measures required to be put in place by employers and adhered to by workers to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace as it re-opens on a phased basis under the government’s roadmap. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has been given the authority to oversee compliance with the protocol. 

The National Protocol and guidance for the sector incorporates current advice about measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) but as this advice evolves these measures and guidance may change so it is very important for Music/Dance  schools  to keep up to date with any new advice. 

This policy and response plan  

• Is informed by the Government’s Return to Work Safely Protocol, COVID-19 Specific National Protocol for Employers and Workers. 
• Is underpinned by the government’s key recommendations to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus: good hand hygiene, good respiratory hygiene, social distancing and regular cleaning and disinfecting. 
• Is in addition to the Services’ Risk Management Policy   

Policy Statement 

This policy is intended to support Musica Fusion School of Music and Dance  to safely re-open our school for staff, parents, students  and children, to adopt a risk assessment approach and to implement public health measures to reduce the risk of the transmission of COVID–19 so as to provide a safe and healthy environment. 

This policy sets out procedures to implement public health measures to reduce the risk of the transmission of COVID-19 while ensuring that the school’s policies and practices remain student/child-centered and that the student/children’s health and well-being are a primary concern.

The school has a strong focus on the importance of effective communication with staff, students, parents and children and supports that may be required to alleviate the impact of the disruption, uncertainty and distress for some caused by COVID-19 

Covid-19 Infection Control Policy

Musica Fusion School of Music and Dance  Infection Control Policy has been reviewed in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the HSA guidance and Information on how to plan for re-opening and operating as safely as possible at this time. 

Covid-19 is a new illness caused by a new coronavirus (SARA-CoV-2) which is spread mainly through tiny droplets scattered from the mouth or nose of a person with the infection. The droplets can be scattered when the infected person coughs, sneezes, talks or laughs. To infect you, it has to get from an infected person's nose or mouth into your eyes, nose or mouth. 

Anyone can get this illness but to date the evidence is that older people and those in at risk categories are most seriously affected. 

The most common symptoms are: 

• Cough - this can be any kind of cough, usually dry but not always 
• Fever - high temperature over 38 degrees Celsius 
• Shortness of Breath 
• Breathing Difficulties

It can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear. Some cases are asymptomatic, meaning there are no symptoms, however the individual is still infected with Covid-19.

Children and young people
The current evidence suggests that children seem generally less likely to contract the virus and are not more likely than adults to spread the virus to other people. Children can get this illness but the current evidence is that they have no symptoms or a very mild disease. 

Symptoms in children include:

• Cough
• Fever 
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Loss of taste and smell
• Vomiting 

How it is transmitted or spread

• COVID-19 is transmitted in breath, sneeze or cough droplets
• The virus is transmitted through bodily fluids from an infected person's nose or mouth coming in contact with your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Transmission can be directly from person to person, however it is more commonly transmitted indirectly, when you touch surfaces or objects where the virus is present, followed by touching your face, where the virus enters through the mucous membranes 
• Children are not more likely than adults to spread the virus

How to reduce the risk of transmission

Hand hygiene   

We will follow the following protocol in terms of hand washing

We will wash our hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitiser if hands are not visibly dirty for 40-60 seconds and in line with the WHO and HSE recommendations  

• The school  will promote good hand hygiene techniques in line with HSE and WHO guidelines, and support students and staff to do the same through modelling and signage. 
• We will ensure an adequate supply of liquid soap, hand gel or rub and disposable or paper towels available throughout the premises including the arrival and outdoor areas.
• We will use liquid soap and warm running water for hand washing and only use hand gels or rubs where running water is not available 
• Hand gel or rub must be applied vigorously over all hand surfaces, for 40-60 seconds, and are only effective if hands are not visibly dirty.
• If hands are physically dirty, then they need to be washed with liquid soap and warm water and students  and staff will have to go to the nearest sink or bathroom. 
• Staff and students  will be encouraged to avoid touching their eyes, their mouth or nose with their hands

a.    How to wash your hands with soap and water (HSE) 

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/22829a-return-to-work-safely-protocol/

• Wet your hands with warm water and apply soap.
• Rub your hands together until the soap forms a lather.
• Rub the top of your hands, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
• Do this for about 20 seconds.
• Rinse your hands under running water.
• Dry your hands with a clean towel or paper towel.

b.    Staff and Students should wash their hands or use sanitizer

• When they arrive at the School and before they go home
• After coughing and sneezing
• If staff move from one room to another room or from inside to outside areas 
• If staff have physical contact with a child from another group other than their own group 
• After contact with bodily fluids (runny nose, spit, vomit, blood,) 
• After cleaning tasks
• After removing gloves
• After handling rubbish
• Whenever hands are visibly dirty 
• If in contact with someone who is displaying any COVID-19 symptoms
• Before and after being on public transport [if using it]
• Before and after being in a crowd

Respiratory hygiene practice, good respiratory hygiene, that is, when coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – discard tissue immediately into a closed bin and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub (for adults) and alcohol-free rub for children or soap and water for 40-60 seconds and in line with the WHO and HSE recommendations. It is better that children wash their hands where possible but where this is not possible hand sanitizer should be used.

• Staff and students must adopt good respiratory hygiene and etiquette
• All staff and secondary students must wear a mask. 
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or into a tissue
• Musica Fusion School of Music and Dance will ensure that tissues are readily accessible throughout the school with a dedicated pedal operated bin provided in each of the rooms and in the outdoor areas for easy disposal of used tissues. 
• Staff and children should wash their hands after coughing or sneezing

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

The virus enters the body through eyes, nose and mouth so refraining from touching your face drastically reduces the chances of contracting the virus. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The service will have an adequate supply of PPE for use when required by staff including disposable single use plastic aprons and non-powdered, non-permeable gloves e.g. when there is a risk of coming in contact with bodily fluids. 

Face Masks

The government has advised wearing a face mask in public indoor spaces where social distancing is difficult to maintain e.g. public transport, retail outlets. The public health advice is that the wearing of face masks by children under 12 years of age is not recommended and so only staff and students over this age or in secondary school will be required to wear masks.  No one will be allowed into the building without a facemask until this changes.   This includes parents and ALL visitors.  Masks will be available at the door, for anyone who forgets and a charge of €1 will be levied.

Social distancing 

•  Maintain social or physical distancing, that is, leave at least 2 m (6 feet) distance between adults when staff on breaks or arriving at work
• As part of social distancing a ‘no handshaking or hug policy’ will be implemented
•  The school  recognizes that it is not possible for staff to observe physical distancing when caring for young children. 

Specific measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in our setting

a.    Staff’s physical contact with children

• It is recommended that where possible the teacher and student maintain social distancing at all times however the school recognizes that this is not always possible especially with young children and in terms of tuning instruments etc… 
•  Difficult though it is for us all, we must discourage hugs and high fives for the time being!

b.    Physical environment 

• The school will be cleaned thoroughly prior to the schools re-opening, including all instruments and equipment. 
•  The school will ventilate the environment as much as possible and within temperature requirements e.g. through opening windows in advance of students  being in the room or while they are outside. COVID-19 thrives more in an indoor environment. 
•  Bean bags will no longer be used in the hall areas and dress up clothes are also no longer to be used for the foreseeable future.
• Child friendly signage will be displayed including physical distance markings in communal areas and at drop and collection points to encourage social distancing and to prevent groups congregating
•  We have placed a notice at the entrance to the service stating that children and staff may not attend if a child/parent/household member or staff member has 
•  signs or symptoms of respiratory infection, such as a cough, shortness of breath and/or fever temperature of 38C or over

Physical environment – staff areas  

• Office access should be limited primarily to office staff and when other staff have to complete administrative, filing or reporting tasks
• Staff should not share equipment such as pens, cups and plates but should have these items for their own personal use.
•  Where a staff room is used ensure tables and chairs are placed far enough apart to ensure social distancing of 2 meters
•  Staff are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting their tables and chairs after use for the next person.
• Cutlery and crockery should be washed in a dishwasher at 60° 

 
c.    Instruments and equipment 

• All instruments in common use will be cleaned by the teachers between each class… This includes, pianos, keyboards, music stands, drums and percussion.  The staff will clean the printer after each use.  
•   The Students must bring their own equipment such as pencils, drum sticks, rosin etc…

d.    Enhanced COVID-19 Cleaning Schedules

We will use enhanced cleaning schedules which specify:

•  The areas to be cleaned, particularly frequently touched surfaces, e.g. light switches, door handles, taps, toilet flush handles, tables
• The method of cleaning, frequency of cleaning, and the cleaning product to be used 
• All instruments and equipment 
• A list of the cleaning products will be maintained with clear written directions for their use
• Each classroom will have an adequate supply of cleaning agents stored safely so that staff do not have to leave the classroom to retrieve them. The school will ensure that there are adequate supplies of cleaning agents, liquid soap, hand gel/rub, paper hand towel 

 
Parents 

Revised Drop off and Collection Procedures 

The purpose of these dropping off and picking of children procedures is, in as far as possible, to support social distancing and minimize the number of contacts that parents and children have with other parents and children, especially at the entrance to the school or in the lobby area. The school will where practical:

•  Organize that Parents drop and collect their children at the exact time of their lesson or class. 
• Organize staggered dropping off and picking up times with the parents 
• Use 2-meter markings on the inside of the school to encourage parents with their children to socially distance at drop off and collection times
• Request that only one parent per family drops off and collects their child/children.
• Students will be dropped at the Front entrance and collected from the side courtyard (where the creche was).  There can be no deviation to this rule.
• Parents need to wash their hands and children’s hands at home before they come to the service
• We ask Parents to take their child’s temperature each day before they come to the service as part of ensuring that children are well, this will need to be balanced against not causing distress to the child..

Communication with parents/guardians

In advance of children returning, the school will make contact with parents/students:  

• To enquire if they/their child is returning to the school
• To ask them to complete the return to the school student form
• To explain the revised COVID-19 health and safety and risk management procedures, the revised drop off and collection procedures, the purpose of these new procedures in reducing the transmission of the virus and that the service is safe for them/their children to return to while acknowledging that the risk of the virus being transmitted cannot be fully eradicated
• To explain the new classroom rules with regard to sharing equipment.
• To emphasize the importance of they/their child only attending the service if they are well and with no symptoms of COVID-19 and actions to be taken if they/their child is displaying any of the symptoms of COVID-19 or is a confirmed case or is a close contact with a suspected or confirmed case
• To explain the actions that will be taken if a student or staff member shows symptoms of COVID-19 while attending the school including that their child’s temperature may be taken in this context
• To request an additional emergency contact in the event that they are not contactable
• To explain the parental agreement, what it will cover and that parents will be required to sign it
• To assure them that the schools practices will continue to be student/child-centered
• To emphasize the responsibilities of parents in supporting the new procedures.
• The school will also seek to understand if COVID-19 and the restrictions have had any traumatic or difficult impacts on the student/child and family and how the service may need to support the child on their return. 
• The school recognizes that ongoing communication will be really important especially if procedures change or are updated and this helps to make everyone feel secure and safe with the new procedures.
• Given that communication between staff and parents will be reduced to drop off and collection times, management and staff will use alternative ways to communicate with parents e.g. email/phone. 
• My Music Staff – We have a new program in the school which will provide for communication via a parent and student portal.  Details of this will follow.

Actions to prevent adults and children with symptoms of COVID-19 from entering the school

Staff
Health and Safety Authority return to work protocol 

• Before returning to work all staff must complete a pre-return to work form at least three days in advance of returning to work. This form should seek confirmation that the staff member to the best of their knowledge has no symptoms of COVID-19, that they are not self-isolating, that they are not a close contact of a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days or awaiting results of a COVID-19 coronavirus test.
•  If a staff member is identified as being in the “at risk or vulnerable category”, the Service will carry out a risk assessment with the staff member and identify what controls can be put in place to support the staff member’s safe return to work. It is recommended in the Return to Work Safely Protocol that vulnerable or at-risk staff should be preferentially supported to maintain a physical distance of 2 meters, however while this may be possible between staff, this will be challenging if not impossible to implement while working with young children

 
After returning to work

• After a return to work, any staff member who is unwell with a fever, has a cold, influenza or infectious respiratory symptoms of any kind or displaying any of the symptoms of the coronavirus, they need to stay at home, contact their GP and seek their guidance on referral for coronavirus testing.
• Any staff member with symptoms of coronavirus or who tests positive should quarantine at home for 14 days and only return to the Service when the symptoms have fully resolved and with a doctor’s certificate stating that the staff member is no longer infectious. Zoom classes can be offered to the student in place of face to face.
•  Any staff member who is a close contact of a person who has or is suspected to have COVID-19 should stay at home and quarantine  for 14 days even though the staff member feels well but it is possible that they are also infected. It can take 2 – 14 days to show symptoms, so it may take up to 14 days to know if they are infected or not. Zoom classes can be offered to the student in place of face to face. They should only return to the service with a doctor’s certificate to say they do not have coronavirus and are not infectious. 
• Staff must adhere to all public health travel restrictions that are in place e.g. quarantine for 14 days on return from non-essential travel abroad or any other travel restrictions that are put in place 

Students 

Students return to the school 

• Before returning to the school, students/ parents will be asked to complete a pre-return to service form for them/their child. This form will seek confirmation that they/the child, to the best of the parent’s knowledge, is well, has no symptoms of COVID-19, that they are not a close contact of a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days or awaiting results of a COVID-19 coronavirus test, and that they are not in a risk category.

 http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/docs/COVHomeQuarantine.pdf

After returning to the school

• Any student/child who is unwell with fever, cold, influenza or infectious respiratory symptoms of any kind or displaying any symptoms of coronavirus, needs to stay at home, contact their GP and seek their guidance on referral for coronavirus testing.
• Any student/child with symptoms of coronavirus or who tests positive should quarantine at home for 14 days and only return to the service when the symptoms have fully resolved and with a doctor’s certificate stating that the child is no longer infectious.
•  Any student/child who is a close contact of a person who has or is suspected to have COVID-19 should stay at home and quarantine for 14 days even though the child feels well but it is possible that they are also infected. It can take 2 – 14 days to show symptoms, so it may take up to 14 days to know if they are infected or not. They should only return to the service with a doctor’s certificate to say they do not have coronavirus and are not infectious. 
• Parents/guardians/students must adhere to all public health travel restrictions that are in place e.g. quarantine for 14 days on return from non-essential travel abroad or any other travel restrictions that are put in place 

Parents

• Only parents or carers who are well and have no symptoms of COVID-19 or who have served the required quarantine time of 14 days where advised should be allowed to drop off and collect children. 

 
Visitors and contractors

• Where at all possible, we will limit access to the school to staff and students only
• Visitors or contractors will only be permitted to enter the service on essential business e.g. essential maintenance and they should be asked to make these visits outside of the usual operational hours. 
• Where external deliveries are required, practices will be put in place to ensure that delivery staff remain outside the premises and adhere to social distancing and good infection control practices
• All visitors and contractors will be required to sign the School's Visitors’ Book giving their name, date of visit, contact details and reason for them being at the school. This is located in the lobby.
• People who are in high risk or vulnerable categories will be asked not to attend.

The incident plan where a child or staff member has or is suspected of having COVID-19 while attending the school

To safely manage a situation whereby a staff member or a student/child becomes unwell while in the School and may be presenting as a suspected case of COVID-19 the School has an incident plan in place including: 

• The Service has an Infection Control Officer present at all times. Susie Butler or Abby Ní Loinsigh.  When they are not available, Aisling Lineen and Noelene Nash have also taken the COVID 19 lead staff representative course.
• The Service has appointed a COVID-19 lead staff representative: Abby Ní Loinsigh.
• The school has identified the bathroom in the Music shop as the designated isolation room or area in the School. 
• The purpose of moving a staff member or student  who is presenting as unwell and maybe a suspected case of COVID-19, is to move them away from other staff and students  thereby reducing the risk of transmission of the virus to others
• Ensure that the staff member or student who is presenting with symptoms of COVID-19 is at least 2 meters distance from other staff and children
• The school will ensure that the isolation room or area will contain Personal Protective Equipment.

Staff

Our Covid-19 staff representative on duty will be the designated person who will accompany a staff member to the isolation room

Temperature testing

The public health advice is that routine temperature checking for staff and/or students/children is not required. Temperature testing if a student/child or a staff member becomes unwell in the service may be required and should be discussed in advance with staff and parents/students.
Temperature testing devices will be available in the service as part of standard practice.

COVID-19 Testing

If COVID-19 testing is arranged for a student/child or staff member by their GP or other medical personnel, the staff member or the student/parents will be contacted by public health to identify who has been in contact with them. Musica Fusion will also be contacted by local public health staff to discuss the case, to identify the close contacts and advise on any actions or precautions that should be taken. It is not necessary to take any action in relation to closing the service, partially or in full until the school has been contacted by and has discussed the case with local public health staff.

Vaccination

It may be recommended by the government that children, staff and parents are encouraged to have the seasonal influenza vaccination this coming winter in order to minimise the risks associated with a possible resurgence of Covid-19