Covid Qld: Outbreak at Marist College Ashgrove

A Brisbane private school is dealing with a Covid-19 outbreak, as 170 students and 20 staff test positive to the virus.

A Brisbane private school has revealed it is dealing with a Covid-19 outbreak.

Marist College Ashgrove has confirmed 170 students and 20 staff have tested positive to the virus.

Head of college Michael Newman said it was a difficult time for the Marist College Ashgrove community.

“The teachers have been wonderful, they are fulfilling in classes and they are assisting students and parents to get through the situation,” he said.

“The teachers are the ones who are really rising to the occasion I believe.”

Mr Newman said he did not believe the all-boys school would have to close.

“I think it is manageable at the moment, I’m not concerned,” he said.

“As the term goes on you’d expect kids and teachers to get tireder, so I’d imagine case numbers would increase.

“But right now it is manageable thanks to the generosity of teachers.”

Head of college Michael Newman said the all-boys school would be unlikely to have to close.

The localised outbreak comes as Covid-19 cases have surged by almost 550 in Queensland.

A surge in cases across the east coast and overseas has coincided with the new Omicron BA. 2 variant, which is believed to be more transmissible.

Queensland on Wednesday recorded 6136 cases, up from 5589 on Tuesday.

Three people infected with Covid-19 died in Queensland, while 255 were in hospital and 21 in ICU.

Case numbers have doubled in just 24 hours in NSW, with 20,402 cases recorded on Wednesday, the most the state has seen in several weeks. Victoria had 9426 new cases.

NSW Health revealed the massive number of cases came from 12,748 RAT tests and 7654 PCR results.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard last week revealed cases were expected to spike as a result of BA. 2.

No restrictions have been reinstated due to the new variant in Australia, but authorities said they were monitoring the situation.