Managing COVID-19 Cases - A Guide

These new arrangements will be in place until the end of week 4 of Term 1. However, with the rapidly changing nature of the pandemic, this may be reviewed or changed if and when necessary. As always, we will remain flexible and responsive, and provide you with any new information as it becomes available.

1. Classroom Contacts

If a student or teacher in your child’s class tests positive for COVID-19, your child will be deemed a classroom contact and the following will occur:

• we will notify all parents in that class of the positive case
• all students and children without symptoms can continue attending school. No rapid antigen testing will be required. 

Any teacher who is in a classroom with a student or colleague who tests positive will undertake 7 days of rapid antigen testing (test to stay). 

2. Additional Recommendations for Classroom Contacts

The Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) has recommended that classroom contacts should avoid the following between days 1 to 7 of exposure:

• attendance at OSHC where possible
• attending extra-curricular activities for 7 days (such as camps, excursions, interschool sport, combined choir etc – noting most of these activities have been temporarily suspended until week 4).

The CPHO advises classroom contacts should do the following to minimise risk to others, when outside of the school setting between days 1 to 14 of exposure: 

• avoid high risk settings or COVID Management Plan events
• wear a surgical mask around others (where age appropriate) and outside the home
• avoid contact with vulnerable people outside of your workplace or family, where possible
• avoid non-essential activities where possible (eg where there are lots of people, inside, in close contact)
• avoid shared spaces and maintain physical distance.

3. Students who have Worked 1:1 with a COVID Positive Staff Member

Any student who has worked 1:1 with a COVID positive staff member (more than 15 minutes, indoors, in close proximity and where face masks are not able to be worn) will be asked to complete 7 days of rapid antigen testing (‘test to stay’). The test should be taken each morning before attending school. We will provide you with the testing kits at no charge. Students who test positive must not attend school.

Alternatively, if you do not want your child to complete the 7-day testing protocol, they must quarantine for 7 days.