Child care centres and school working with public health doctors to prevent gastro spread
Parents have been warned to keep their children home after at least nine Gold Coast childcare centres and a school reported Gastro outbreaks this week.
QLD News
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At least nine Gold Coast child care centres and a school have reported outbreaks of vomiting or diarrhoea this week.
The Gold Coast Public Health Unit is working with the affected child care facilities and school to reduce the further spread of infectious gastroenteritis, urging parents to keep their children home if they are ill and to encourage hand washing.
GASTRO OUTBREAKS IN CHILD CARE AND NURSING HOMES
QLD RECORDS NO NEW CASES OF PANDEMIC VIRUS
Public health physician Vick Slinko said children could be infectious for up to 48 hours after their symptoms had settled.
“It’s really parents don’t send kids back to school or childcare for at least that period,” Dr Slinko said.
She warned that complacency about hand washing could result in highly infectious viruses spreading from person to person.
“Gold Coasters were excellent with their hand hygiene when we had some COVID-19 cases in the community through winter, but we can’t afford to relax now,” Dr Slinko said.
“With the AFL grand final tonight and Halloween just around the corner, this should be a reminder to not only wash your hands to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but to wash your hands to prevent the spread of gastroenteritis as well.
“By taking a moment for hand hygiene, you’re taking a moment to protect the most vulnerable people in our community.”
Dr Slinko said that to avoid germs being passed from person to person, people should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hands should then be thoroughly dried.
