Protections in place as schools stay open
GEELONG schools appear set to remain open to students in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, while some have already taken measures to protect students.
Closures, voluntary attendance and even extra staff to “ensure students are suitably dispersed” at recess and lunchtime breaks are some of the measures taken by Geelong schools.
But most schools appear set to avoid closing following yesterday’s advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, suggesting closing schools would be unlikely to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“The committee’s advice is that pre-emptive school closures are not likely to be proportionate or effective as a public health intervention to prevent community transmission of COVID-19 at this time,” Victorian Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton said yesterday.
“There is currently limited information on the contribution of children to transmission of COVID-19.
“School closures may still be considered late in the outbreak in anticipation of a peak in infection rates, for a shorter period of time. Short-term reactive school closures may also be warranted to allow cleaning and contact tracing to occur.”
Dr Sutton’s advice came despite some schools having already moved to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus. Geelong Grammar on Saturday announced it would close all classrooms, grounds and boarding residences by 5pm tomorrow, signalling “remote learning” would take place.
The school yesterday stood by its decision in the wake of the Chief Health Officer’s advice, writing to parents that “multiple well-considered factors” — including an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis at its Timbertop campus — led to the school’s decision to end face-to-face learning.
Parents of Bellarine Secondary College students were yesterday notified the school had directed students “not to gather in groups”.
“Additional staff will be in the yard at recess and lunchtime to ensure students are suitably dispersed in accordance with the advice we have received,” principal Wayne Johannesen wrote to parents.
St Mary’s Primary School Geelong and Clairvaux Catholic School in Belmont both announced coronavirus measures over the weekend and yesterday.
St Mary’s contacted parents on Sunday evening, allowing them to decide whether or not to bring their children to school with no absence penalties.
“This is unprecedented times, which calls for unprecedented decisions, and I think parents are best placed to make those decisions,” principal Annice Lappin said.
Clairvaux principal Basil Flynn also released a statement yesterday, encouraging concerned parents to keep their children at home.