10 Aug 2022
NSW public schools have adopted a range of COVID-smart measures to keep students and staff safe in Term 3 and beyond.
NSW Education Secretary Georgina Harrisson said the additional COVID-smart measures are important tools to help reduce transmission of COVID-19.
“The settings are similar to last term, but we are being extra vigilant to get the term off to the best start – supporting our staff and students with extra supplies of rapid antigen tests and masks, and encouraging them to stay at home if unwell,” said Ms Harrisson.
As part of a “four-week blitz” at the start of Term 3 some measures have been scaled up to ensure a strong start to the term:
- Providing an increased supply of free rapid antigen test (RAT) kits for symptomatic testing of staff and students. More than 9 million RAT kits have been distributed during the first 3 weeks of Term 3 to replenish existing stocks in schools.
- For all of Term 3, masks continue to be required for staff who interact with students at greater risk of serious illness if they contract COVID-19. Household and close contacts are still prohibited from attending SSPs and support classes.
- Masks are strongly encouraged indoors for all staff, students and visitors to mainstream schools.
- Boosted day cleaning at schools. This term, cleaners will increase their day clean while students and staff are onsite. Cleaners will continue to focus on high-touch areas and other hard surfaces, door handles, lockers, light switches and handrails in stairways and high movement areas
- Students and staff to stay home if unwell, even with the mildest of symptoms, and to undertake and report any positive COVID test results to Service NSW which is an important step for vulnerable staff and/or students in establishing eligibility for anti-viral treatment.
- Maximising natural ventilation in schools. Significant improvement works are continuing over winter 2022 to improve air quality and ventilation in schools.
Individual schools will also continue to be directed to temporarily adopt additional “circuit breaker” measures where there are increasing case numbers across multiple cohorts week-on-week and/or increasing case numbers in staff.
These additional measures may include:
- Ceasing large indoor gatherings.
- Ceasing off-site and inter-school activities.
- Mandatory mask wearing for all staff and high school students.
- Limiting visitors entering education sites.
- Before and after hours enhanced cleaning..
- Cohorts directed to learn from home for short periods if required.
For more information on the COVID-smart measures visit Advice for families.