‘Not acceptable’: Parents frustrated as several students test positive for Covid-19 after camp

Frustrated parents have said that a Brisbane school took too long to notify them of a Covid outbreak at a Year 7 camp.

Several students from St Rita’s College in Clayfield have tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from their Year 7 camp on Wednesday but frustrated parents say the school took too long to notify them of the outbreak.

Families were formally informed on Thursday morning.

It can also be revealed four students began to show flu-like symptoms on Monday, the first day of the camp, and their parents were asked to collect them early.

One mother said she was “extremely upset” to learn of the concerning outbreak in The Courier-Mail before any communication from St Rita’s.

“There was radio silence for too long and that’s not acceptable,” she said.

Another parent said families had to rely on “the grapevine” for updates and the school “should have let us all know Monday when the first child tested positive”.

“I think most parents would have immediately gone to bring their kids home,” he said.

St Rita’s principal Dale Morrow told The Courier-Mail in a statement on Thursday afternoon: “A Year 7 communication was sent to parents on Thursday morning reporting on the camp’s outcome and encouraging parents to monitor their daughters’ health”.

“As always, the health and wellbeing of the students, staff and their families is paramount in all college decision making.”

Mrs Morrow said no students presented with symptoms on departure for camp. “There was one student who had recently completed positive isolation who had been cleared by the college nurse under Queensland Health protocols and verification with the parents,” she said.

She confirmed four students started to display symptoms on the first afternoon of camp and their parents were immediately contacted by the camp co-ordinator and “were required to come and collect their child as a matter of priority”.

Brisbane suburb of Clayfield – St. Rita's College, Clayfield.

They were also requested to have their daughter undertake a RAT and inform the co-ordinator of the result.

“The co-ordinator was informed very late Monday evening of one of these four students testing positive,” Mrs Morrow said.

“As there were no close contacts, as deemed by the health department protocols, there was no further action required from the college or camp staff.

“The co-ordinator was then informed on Tuesday morning of one further of these four students testing positive, and two further on Tuesday afternoon.”

Mrs Morrow staff on the ground had managed the situation according to Queensland Health protocols.

“The college became aware of further positive tests on Thursday morning,” she said.

“Calls were then made by college staff to every family of close contacts, as deemed under Queensland Health protocols, of these positive cases.”

Mrs Morrow said the three-day camp was usually a compulsory outdoor learning event.

“The camp had been postponed from the start of the year and rescheduled at the request of many Year 7 parents.

“At the time of rescheduling and in preparation for camp, parents were asked to withdraw their daughter if they were displaying any symptoms of any illness and given the option to withdraw their daughter if they just felt more comfortable doing so.”

The only information on St Rita’s Facebook page about the camp was posted around lunchtime on Wednesday when it said: “The Year 7s have had a fantastic time at camp this week.

“They have been getting to know each other and their teachers as well as developing independence and resilience.

“They have had fun participating in activities such as Giant Swing, Bush MasterChef, Climbing Wall, Archery and Tree Climb.

“They have been brave when going out of their comfort zone and sleeping one night in a tent.”

It is the third Covid-19 scare at a Brisbane private school in the past week, with an outbreak at Marist College Ashgrove and one at Brisbane Grammar School that was linked to the GPS Head of the River rowing event.