Covid advice for SA schools: Restrictions ruled out as infections sweep classrooms

The Education Minister says schools won’t shut early despite surging Covid infections, but staffing issues have left teachers crawling to the finish line of the 2022 school year.

The state government has ruled out shutting schools early as Covid sweeps through classrooms, but teachers say rising infections have left them dramatically understaffed.

On Wednesday, Education Minister Blair Boyer reassured parents the situation was under control, saying SA’s campuses were well prepared despite surging rates of infection.

Mr Boyer said a return to learning from home was unlikely, with hopes the end of the school year would act as a circuit breaker to stem the spread of cases ahead of Christmas.

“That may change as modelling changes, but we only have two and a half weeks left of school,” Mr Boyer said.

“Hopefully we’ll then be past this wave and start the 2023 school year fresh.”

One year 5/6 class at Noarlunga Downs P-7 and the disability unit at Salisbury Park Primary were hit by outbreaks last week, with mask mandates back in place until Wednesday for adults and teachers on campus at Salisbury Park, and December 11 for Noarlunga Downs.

Latest Education Department figures on Wednesday showed 724 infectious students were absent from 388 state schools in the past seven days.

The number of infected staff members has increased almost five times compared to the end of last term, with 330 educators absent.

In the final week of term 3, 295 students and 72 staff were infected.

Goodwood Primary School parent Tim Moule says he isn’t worried about Covid affecting his children Kit, 5, and June, 7. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Catholic Education South Australia said 140 students and 49 staff were infected with Covid across 113 schools last week, with similar numbers in weeks four and five.

Department data shows student attendance at 88 per cent - compared to 81 per cent at the end of term 1, 83 per cent at the end of term 2 and 89 per cent at the end of term 3.

Australian Education Union SA president Andrew Gohl said the “dramatic increase” in staff infections compared with the beginning of term was putting extra pressure on already-exhausted educators.

“These staffing problems have existed throughout the pandemic, but the more teachers that are absent, the more pressure that’s placed on those left in the classroom,” Mr Gohl said.

“This leaves them with little to no non-instructing time, which means they are forced to pick up reports and marking at this crucial time of year at night or outside of hours.”

Mr Gohl said relaxed Covid restrictions had also seen more sick students attending class in term 4, particularly those with parents in the casual workforce or with inflexible employment arrangements.

Tim Moule, father of seven-year-old Goodwood Primary School student June Moule, said covid had not been on the forefront of his mind, despite the growing case numbers in SA schools.

Mr Moule said the primary school had been “great” with their communication of case numbers in classes.

“The reality is, if (Christmas is) impacted it’s impacted,” Mr Moule said.

“It would be awful if (Covid) disrupted Christmas, but we’re at the point now where you just do what you’ve got to do.”

Confused about the current rules around schools and Covid? Here’s everything you need to know before the end of term 4.

Is it safe to send children to school?

When it comes to kids and Covid, UniSA professor of epidemiology Adrian Esterman said children were less likely to suffer severe illness.

“Kids, especially the younger ones, simply don’t get very sick from Covid if they catch it,” Prof Esterman said.

However, parents are urged to keep children off campus if they show signs of illness, are awaiting results of a test or have tested positive to the virus.

Under current Covid restrictions, positive infections are required to stay home until acute symptoms have cleared (usually between five to seven days).

With such a short period until the school year ends, Prof Esterman has suggested children with underlying conditions could remain at home if parents were concerned about them contracting Covid.

Will schools be shut down due to Covid spread?

While students in two classrooms across the state have been sent home in the past week, it is unlikely that a whole school would be forced to close.

Current guidelines encourage learning in school settings unless children are unwell, isolating due to Covid or awaiting the results of a test.

Students Jorja and Mackenzie wearing masks on the way to school. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Can a school require Covid testing?

Students must undertake five rapid antigen tests over the period of a week if they have been a close contact of a positive Covid case.

A student is considered a close contact if they have been supported in proximity by a teacher or SSO who has tested positive for Covid.

The contact must have been for more than four cumulative hours indoors and without wearing masks.

Will schools have a mask mandate?

Education department rules state that schools can impose mask mandates for year 7-12 students and teachers if more than 10 Covid cases are detected in a single class in a seven day period.

Additionally, mask mandates can be imposed if five cases in five different classrooms emerge in a week.

Primary school students cannot be required to wear masks.

Mandates have been imposed for classes at Noarlunga Downs P-7 and Salisbury Park Primary in the past week.

Should students be wearing masks in schools?

Students are not required to wear masks, but they are strongly recommended.

However, masks are mandated in education settings for close contacts of positive Covid infections aged over 12 years old, as well as staff members who are not fully vaccinated.