Queensland schools desperate for more RATs as students with Covid symptoms sent home on first morning back

Queensland schools are facing a critical RAT shortage with one issuing a desperate plea for more tests after a student with Covid symptoms was sent home within an hour of classes starting.

Queensland schools are facing critical shortage in rapid antigen tests, with one receiving just eight for 320 students.

A Queensland teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, said along with receiving just eight RATS for 320 students plus staff, the school had also only been delivered 200 child-sized masks.

Faith Lutheran College Plainlands was also dealing with a shortage in RATs, with an email seen by The Courier-Mail revealing only 16 had been supplied for the first day of classes.

The school was initially told there would be enough RATs to cover 10 per cent of the staff and student population.

Queensland schools are facing a critical shortage in rapid antigen tests.

With a cohort of around 800 students and 150 staff, less than a fifth of what was promised has been received.

The email was addressed to both the state and federal governments requesting a larger supply, with a student displaying Covid symptoms sent home within 30 minutes of classes starting.

The school also questioned whether the tests were supposed to last them the entire two-week period.

Education Minister Grace Grace said the sector had applied a formula to “hopefully” make sure there were ample face masks to be handed out to students but urged schools to contact the department if more were needed.

Education Minister Grace Grace. Picture: Liam Kidston

She also said tests would be provided were possible.

“If they want more, let us know and they will be provided,” she told The Courier-Mail. “There is no doubt about it.

“We didn’t want to just put out a lot of tests where they weren’t required, they’re very hard to come by (but) we are getting deliveries now.

“There are supplies of masks and we’re re-topping that up every week so they’ll get more supplies this week.”

The Minister said the plan was never to provide one mask per student given the expectation some parents would supply their own while masks would also be needed on public transport before arriving at the school grounds.

“A lot of kids bring their own masks and that’s what we’ve accommodated for but if they need more, they will get more,” Ms Grace said.