Hunter schools enforce social distancing as teacher is exposed
A NEWCASTLE Grammar School teacher has self-isolated after their friend was found to have COVID-19.
Head of School Erica Thomas wrote to parents on Sunday to tell them the year six teacher had come into contact with a confirmed case. The school is following NSW Health advice.
Ms Thomas told the Newcastle Herald the teacher was in Sydney last week with friends, including one who was confirmed on Saturday to have COVID-19.
"The teacher had contact with students and staff last week and had no idea he had come into contact with the virus the weekend before," Ms Thomas said.
"The teacher continues to exhibit no symptoms.
"We have cleaned all areas the teacher was in thoroughly, communicated directly with parents of the students he was most in contact with, phoned any parent where we knew the child or parent might because of other health complications be concerned, and informed staff."
Schools across the Hunter - including Newcastle Grammar - started rolling out social distancing measures on Monday, such as staggering break times and cancelling a range of events, from assemblies to sports carnivals, excursions, parent teacher interviews, Harmony Day and Easter hat parades.
"The school in the modern era has never dealt with a health crisis of this magnitude"," Ms Thomas said.
"As a community we need to protect those that are most at risk - while younger people seem to be less impacted if they contract the virus - we don't want to be responsible for passing it on to their grandparents."
The practicality of social distancing in a school setting and the question of school closures aside: community transmission in this context is a thing that we don't seem to be taking seriously enough at all. Or in any context really.
Posted Mar 16, 2020, 11:39 PM UTC