The number of outbreaks of gastro in ACT childcare centres last month were seven times higher than average. ACT Health have requested that services remember the following information;

• We all need to do our part to help prevent the spread of gastro. And good hand hygiene utilising soap, running water and clean towels is critical.
• If children or educators have symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea, they must stay at home until 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped. Hydration is very important during this time.
  
• Educators, families and carers should be reminded to make sure everyone practises good hand hygiene to prevent the spread to other household members. This includes washing hands with soap and running water.

Please let us know if you are keeping your child home due to gastro symptoms as we are required to let families know that we have had an outbreak of an infectious disease (date and number of cases is the only information that we share with families).

For more information on gastro please click here for ACT Health's fact sheet.