COVID FAQs

Q - Who do I contact for COVID related matters?

A - Here are some contacts you may find useful, in addition to the usual channels:

• To contact the Nurse, Edith Lemba: nurse@isl.sch.zm +260211250362
• To inform us of COVID developments: notify@isl.sch.zm
• Our COVID hotlines

Q - Why do you exclude vaccinated people from the requirement to isolate?

A - Our current protocols for contact tracing do exclude vaccinated people. This is on advice from our COVID Task Force (CTF), which includes medical experts. From what I understand, the risk posed by vaccinated people is very low (although it is not zero). Around the world, there are different quarantine requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated people. The CTF is currently reconsidering this matter and will revert to us in due course either to ratify the current procedure or to suggest an alternative from which we will see the way forward.

Q - Why do you use rapid antigen tests to screen for field trips?

A - A high-quality rapid antigen test (RAT) is recommended as a screening tool to detect current COVID-19 infection. Screening allows for rapid identification of infected and contagious people, thus preventing further virus transmission. This is useful for us as the field trips are only of a few days' duration and a rapid antigen test can screen out persons who may be infectious, so they do not go on the trip and are quickly isolated.

This in conjunction with our other existing prevention measures, (Insert COVID protocols and trip guidelines) ensures a high level of safety. Some concerns over the use of RATs stem from earlier, lower-quality versions. We are working with our testing provider to provide high-quality antigen tests for the trip.

Our plan for this is to have trips depart on Tuesday following a test on Monday. Students with a negative result will travel in their existing class bubbles wearing masks and maintaining adequate spacing during travel and their stay at the facilities.