Schools in South Australia’s Riverland have recorded at least 30 COVID-19 cases each week since the start of the school year.
Key points:
- Around 70 positive cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Riverland schools across the first weeks of term
- Students who test positive are required to isolate, while classmates can keep attending school
- The Department of Education is confident in its school COVID-19 policies
Students returned to school three weeks ago, however it is the first week of all students being back on campus for face-to-face learning.
Despite sparse numbers in classrooms while most students undertook home learning for the first two weeks of the term, schools in the Riverland recorded around 40 positive cases during week one and in the low 30s in week two.
The figures account for students, teachers, and staff.
Department of Education principal consultant Brenton Chapman said it was a low return for the 21 schools in the region.
“They’ve been steady throughout the course of the week and we have a sprinkling of cases across all sites,” he said.
“If there’s a positive case in the classroom all parents are notified … then it’s a matter of parents monitoring children’s symptoms.”
Department confident in school policies
There are no requirements for students to undergo testing before they go to school or undertake a testing regime if in the same class as a positive case.
Mr Chapman said students can keep going to school if they are symptom free, even if they are deemed a close contact.
He said if a child is positive, parents should keep the school updated on how the children is feeling and how symptoms are progressing.
“We’re getting great cooperation from families in terms of that communication to the school and being supportive of measures that are in place.
“It’s really hard to tell what will happen in the coming weeks, but at the moment the signs are really positive.”
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
Loading form…
