Parents sending sick kids to school

Parents are risking fines by sending sick kids to school during the coronavirus pandemic. FILE PIC

PARENTS are risking fines by sending sick kids to school during the coronavirus pandemic.

Queensland Teachers’ Union president Kevin Bates yesterday begged parents to “do the right thing’’ and keep sick students home.

He said Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young had powers to fine parents who send kids with cold or flu symptoms to school during the pandemic.

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He said some parents feared losing work if they stayed home to care for sick children.

The state’s Chief Health Officer insisted that “no sick child should attend school’’.

“There have been issues with noncompliance which has now become more critical,’’ he said.

“We are addressing that through the Chief Health Officer.

“People are losing their jobs across the community and parents are in a precarious position.

“It is putting schools in a difficult spot but we always try to be compassionate.’’

Mr Bates said the Chief Health Officer had the power to fine parents.

“It is an entirely undesirable outcome at a time of crisis and we plead with parents to choose to do the right thing by their children and the school,’’ he said.

Dr Jeanette Young Chief Health Officer of Queensland: “The child’s parent or carer should be asked to immediately attend the school and take the child away.’’ Picture: AAP Image/Claudia Baxter

Queensland’s Public Health Act includes fines of up to $50,000 for ignoring a public health order, although cases must be heard by a magistrate.

Dr Young insisted that “no sick child should attend school’’.

She said any child who attends school sick should be immediately taken to a sick bay “in order to protect other children and staff of the school’’.

“The child’s parent or carer should be asked to immediately attend the school and take the child away,’’ she said.

“The child should not return until their symptoms have resolved’’.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison was yesterday locked in negotiations with the Australian Education Union over the best way to keep schools open for working parents while protecting teachers from coronavirus contamination.

He said that school “won’t be as usual going into the future’’.

“But we must have an orderly transition … I don’t want any parent to have to choose between putting food on the table for their kids and for their kids getting an education,’’ he said.

Kevin Bates, President QLD Teachers Union: “There have been issues with noncompliance which has now become more critical.” Picture: Liam Kidston

“(Teachers) are critical people in our community at this time and it’s very important that we work with teachers to ensure that their workplace health and safety is being addressed as we manage this very difficult issue.’’

Education Queensland said on Wednesday that all schools, including special schools, remain open “at this time’’.

“School cleaning staff are paying extra special attention to health and hygiene,’’ a spokesman said.

“All students and community members have been reminded of the need for heightened attention to hygiene standards, including regular and increased hand washing.’’

One teacher aide working in a Queensland special school for children with profound disabilities, who did not want her name published, yesterday called for them to be shut down to protect older teachers and carers.

“The drivers and carers have to wipe up the vomit and poo,’’ she said.

“If parents are at home, why are they being sent to school?’’