Covid Qld: Students ordered home after mingling with ‘locked down’ kids

Students from a second southern Brisbane school have been sent for Covid-19 tests after allegedly socialising with kids from a locked-down school.

Five students of a southern Brisbane high school were dramatically sent home and off for Covid-19 tests yesterday after allegedly socialising with students from a locked-down school.

Runcorn State High School was advised by Queensland Health that four of its students and their families were required to immediately isolate, as part of contact tracing efforts.

So far all students have tested negative to Covid-19, but the families were awaiting advice on when the children could return to school.

The Courier-Mail understands the students may have attended a house party with others from Sunnybank’s St Thomas More College, the school attended by a 13-year-old who tested positive to Covid-19 last week.

Runcorn State High School today. Picture” Tara Croser

Last Friday St Thomas More College students who had attended school at the same time were ordered into 14 days’ home isolation, along with their families.

There are now four households linked to the cluster, with multiple students testing positive in the past few days.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said Runcorn State High had acted appropriately following the advice from Queensland Health.

“The school will remain open and will continue to liaise closely with Queensland Health and follow their advice in relation to any potential actions that may need to be taken to minimise any risks to students and staff,” she said.

“The department is unable to provide any additional information due to privacy reasons.”

A Metro South Health spokeswoman said “there is no indication of a school-wide quarantine for Runcorn SHS at this time as the students are negative”.

“Those five students and their families remain in quarantine,” she said.