Covid cases in Rockhampton, Gladstone, Yeppoon and Emerald schools

Just three days into the new school year, Covid-19 cases are being reported at schools in Rockhampton, Gladstone, Emerald and Yeppoon. Full details here.

Clusters of Covid-19 cases are emerging at schools across Central Queensland, prompting parents to collect their unwell children from school.

School has only been back for three days after the return to classrooms was delayed by two weeks by the Queensland Government in a bid to avoid the Covid-19 Omicron peak.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, who is in Cairns this morning, revealed there were 534 schoolchildren, aged from five to 17, with Covid-19 and said figures would be updated daily.

“We don’t envisage this is directly related to schools yet as it’s early days,” Ms D’Ath said.

On Tuesday a letter from Marist College in Emerald was circulated on social media, confirming Covid-19 cases among students at the school.

The letter, dated February 8, 2022, stated the College wished to advise it had been informed that a small number of students had tested positive to Covid-19.

“Queensland Health has advised that in these circumstances relevant areas of the school should be cleaned before allowing further access by staff or students,” it said.

“No quarantine of students or staff is required.”

By Wednesday, it is understood up to three cases of Covid-19 had also been detected among students at North Rockhampton State High School in Berserker for the week so far.

In a letter sent to parents on Monday, NRSHS principal Kurt Goodwin advised that students showing Covid-19 symptoms would be given a RAT test at school.

The test is to be administered at home.

“If a student develops COVID-19 symptoms while at school, they will be able to access free RATs from their school,” he said.

“Parents/carers will need to collect their child and administer the test at home. The collection point for these students will be on the Berserker Street side of the sick bay.”

A positive case was also detected at the Rockhampton Special School on Wednesday.

A letter from principal Erin King urged parents and caregivers to continue to monitor for Covid symptoms, and for students to stay home if they were displaying any symptoms or feeling unwell.

“You should also attend your local Queensland Health testing clinics where students are prioritised to get a free Rapid Antigen Test,” the letter read.

“If students become symptomatic while at school, you will be contacted to collect them.

“You will also be provided with a free Rapid Antigen Test to administer at home.

“If your child tests positive to Covid-19, please follow Queensland Health guidelines for report the test result, isolation and quarantine.”

Parkhurst State School principal Lyle Walker urged a similar response after a positive case was also detected there on Wednesday.

“Please be assured that we are continuing to ensure Covid-safe practices at the school,” a letter to parents read in part.

“Monitor yourself and your family for Covid-19 symptoms.

“Continue to follow all Queensland Health advice.”

Similarly, the letter said that if students became symptomatic at school, parents would be contacted to collect them and they would be provided with a RAT to administer at home.

Rockhampton’s Emmaus College parents also received a letter advising that students had tested positive for Covid-19.

“Catholic Education Diocese of Rockhampton regularly consults with Queensland Health and has been advised that in these circumstances, relevant areas of the school should be cleaned before allowing access. The relevant areas have now been cleaned,” the letter reads.

“Queensland Health has advised that no quarantine of students or staff is required”.

All staff employed at Emmaus College are fully vaccinated.

There are also reports of numerous cases of Covid-19 at Toolooa State High School in Gladstone on Tuesday, as well as cases at Yeppoon schools.

In a newsletter released on Monday, Toolooa State High School’s principal Justin Harrison said the major goal was to provide the best education in a safe and supportive learning environment.

“Consequently, Toolooa SHS will continue to follow the directions of Queensland Health, as well as implement all “Covid normal” practices at the school including maintaining physical distancing, good hand hygiene and wearing a mask,” he said.

“Essential to the success of these measures is that if your child is unwell or displaying any COVID-19 symptoms, they must not attend school. I cannot emphasise this message strongly enough – it is critical to keeping our school community safe.

“As we have all seen, the Covid situation is ever changing. I am anticipating that throughout the year, school events and activities will need adjusting to meet the necessary requirements.

“We appreciate your understanding and patience when this does need to occur and will do our best to provide as much notice to families as possible.”

By Tuesday, the school had been forced to postpone its swimming carnival citing ‘the uncertain times that we are currently facing’.

It comes after the Central Queensland region’s case numbers appeared to be declining on Tuesday, with just 46 cases confirmed through PCR tests and a further 87 self-reported RAT positives registered through Queensland Health.

That decline was short-lived though, with CQ Health confirming on Wednesday more than 200 new cases had been recorded overnight.

Of those, 138 were from PCR rests and 46 were in the Rockhampton Regional Council area, 37 in Gladstone Regional Council area, 24 in Livingstone Shire Council area, 21 in Central Highlands Regional Council area and 10 in Banana Shire area.

There were 100 self-reported RAT positives for CQ registered through Queensland Health’s RAT registration portal.

At 8am Wednesday there were 10 Covid patients in Rockhampton Hospital, including one person in a serious condition in the ICU.

All high school students, including those who are under 12 years of age, all school staff at both primary and high school, early childhood workers, volunteers, family members, contractors and other visitors must wear masks.

Students in years 3 to 6 are provided with masks and encouraged to wear them at school when physical distancing is not possible. There are a number of exceptions.

Students and staff must not attend school if they are unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms.

Those who have symptoms will be prioritised to receive a free rapid antigen test at a Queensland Health testing clinic.

A student or staff member who has symptoms at school will be sent home with a RAT to administer at home.

The Rockhampton Grammar School said in a statement it was unable to share information on health-related matters but that “any positive cases in school children across CQ would be reported in daily case numbers published by the Department of Health”.

“It has been fantastic to see students happy to be back at school and following Covid safe practices including wearing of face masks for our older students,” the statement read.

“As the school has done since the commencement of the pandemic, we continue to follow Queensland Government and Queensland Health directives across all aspects of our school operations.

“All schools are following Queensland Health guidelines in regard to testing and provision of RATs.

“Staff and/or students at a school who develop symptoms can be provided a RAT test by the school, which they then administer at home.

“As with any member of the community, positive cases and close contacts are required to take action as detailed by Queensland Health.

“Throughout the pandemic our headmaster has communicated to our families on a regular basis to provide updates and information on Covid and its impact on our school and community.”

The Catholic Education Diocese of Rockhampton said it was assisting and supporting Catholic kindergartens and schools with the full implementation of the Queensland Government’s Back to School Plan in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This plan provides a summary of recommended Covid-safe measures for all schools in Queensland including some specific arrangements for the period 7 February to 4 March, 2022.”

Diocesan director of Catholic Education Leesa Jeffcoat thanked the Central Queensland Public Health Unit of Queensland Health in Rockhampton for their guidance and support with the implementation of Queensland’s Back to School Plan and specific advice regarding how schools were to respond to confirmed cases of Covid within school communities.

Miss Jeffcoat also thanked principals, teachers and staff of Catholic schools across the diocese for their efforts to ensure a smooth start to the school year for students, with face-to-face learning now well underway.

“At all times, the safety and wellbeing of our staff and students remains our key priority,” Miss Jeffcoat said.

“CCEDR will continue to work closely with Queensland Health to ensure that all necessary health advice is followed.”

Education Queensland has also been contacted for comment.