Brisbane Grammar cluster swells after cases revealed to have attended group sports training

An urgent quarantine order has been issued to the Brisbane Grammar School community after principal reveals positive cases attended group sports training while infectious.

There are fears of widespread infection at Brisbane Grammar School, with the headmaster this morning advising parents that multiple students with Covid-19 may have attended a range of events between July 29 and 31.

Anthony Micallef confirmed there were now eight students, two teachers and one parent who have returned a positive COVID-19 test.

He said all students, coaches and family members who attended rugby and gymnastics training sessions and two rugby matches against Terrace at Churchie’s playing fields were now considered close contacts and must quarantine at home for 14 days.

He said the Covid-positive students were “not aware they were infectious at the time”.

Brisbane Grammar School headmaster Anthony Micallef. Picture Brian Crawford

Late on Wednesday, Grammar was asked to supply Queensland Health information about: Year 7 rugby training at BGS on July 29, 3.30pm-6.30pm; gymnastics training at BGS on July 30, 3.15pm-6.20pm; and a rugby match on July 31 July (BGS 12Bs vs Gregory Terrace 12Ds) at Churchie, and the game that immediately followed.

Mr Micallef also advised that “household members of staff, students and visitors” were secondary contacts (contacts of close contacts) and must also quarantine at home for 14 days.

In an earlier notice, the school told families of Year 6 students who were away in Cairns on camp for part of last week they were now required to quarantine and be tested.

This was due to an infectious student being on campus from July 26, before the younger students left for camp.

Mr Micallef said a Covid testing clinic in the school’s Centenary Hall would be in operation primarily for the BGS community on August 11.

Dr Kim Hansen urges locked down Queenslanders to look out for friends and neighbours. Picture: Ray Cash

It comes as a Brisbane emergency doctor whose daughter attends Brisbane Girls Grammar school and has been forced into quarantine with her three children and partner has made the call for Queenslanders to look out for friends and neighbours who are quarantining alone

“It’s not easy. People will need support if they are by themselves. I find it frustrating not to be able to look after sick people in the ED that’s who I am but we have to play our part in containing the virus. An ED doctor can’t really work from home,” said Dr Kim Hansen, who works in two hospital location.

“My daughter attends Brisbane Girls Grammar and we got the news on Saturday night that a positive case had been in contact with the school. That was it. It was isolation for us all” the mum of children aged 9,12 and 13 said.

“We have all tested negative and the kids are taking it well. The girls grammar has not had the cases that the boys’ school has had. I imagine the more cases the more concern from parents and schoolkids”, she said

“All children are different some are resilient in these situations while others do get anxious.”