No guidance for positive tests

SCHOOLS say they need clear guidelines on what to do if a student or staff member gets COVID-19 as they reopen for all students today after scrambling to create their own shutdown plans in case of a coronavirus outbreak.

It comes as Queensland’s more than 800,000 students are now allowed back in classrooms after five weeks of remote learning this term, and a final week of student-free days in term one.

An independent school source said schools were aware they had to contact Queensland Health and had emergency reporting procedures but a clear template of protocols to follow if a student or staff member tested positive for coronavirus would be helpful for schools as they reopen for all students.

Another anonymous independent school source said that schools felt like they were on their own to come up with detailed plans, with no clear official step-by-step protocols.

“There’s heaps of ambiguity and it would be great if there were some actual guidelines to follow,” they said.

“They had the time to put a template for how many people should be in classes and class spacing but why not put out a template on how schools should respond to an outbreak.

“If the school gets a case how long are we required to close for, who organises cleaning, how long are parents expected to keep kids home for, is there a requirement that if that happens, all students, parents or staff get tested, or is there a requirement for only people who have come into contact?”

Independent Education Union secretary Terry Burke confirmed some schools were saying they wanted clearer guidelines.

The Queensland Education Department confirmed it had sent state schools the health protocols. “In the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 at a school, Queensland Health has the ability to respond rapidly and thoroughly to limit any transmission,” a spokesperson said.