Department of Education not ruling out cancelling multiple school trips amid coronavirus spike

As a number of overseas school trips are being cancelled due to coronavirus, just how safe are local school excursions?

THE Education Department has not ruled out cancelling local school excursions and camps over the coronavirus, confirming activities would be “reassessed” in light of the new threat.

Queensland’s Department of Education has also revealed today that extra precautions will be taken on school camps this year, alongside extra promotion of hand and personal hygiene to the state’s students.

These new measures come amid the coronavirus’ growing impact on Queensland schools, ranging from international excursions being cancelled to large fundraising fetes being postponed.

When asked about how schools are being advised in terms of these types of school outings, a Department of Education spokeswoman has said that all school excursions are always assessed to identify risk factors.

“This includes the considerations of current external factors such as the coronavirus”. She told the Courier-Mail.

“Planned excursions will be reassessed for any additional risks on a case-by-case basis and postponed, cancelled, or rescheduled if appropriate.”