Warwick State High School caught out in Covid blunder after students breach mask mandate

The high school has come under fire over reports incorrect government advice allowed groups of students and teachers to return to school without face masks after a trip to now locked down areas of Brisbane.

CAUGHT OUT: The Warwick high school came under fire when it was found to be following incorrect advice after a group of students travelled to now locked down areas of Brisbane on an excursion. Picture: file

Warwick State High School has come under fire over reports groups of students and teachers inadvertently breached the State Government’s face mask mandate after an excursion to a now-locked-down area in Brisbane.

Eleven local government areas across Southeast Queensland are currently locked down amid an escalating Covid outbreak, with face masks mandatory and all residents only allowed to travel 10km from their home for essential reasons.

Current advice from Queensland Health states the same restrictions apply to anyone who has travelled to those areas since 1am Saturday, and face masks are compulsory for anyone who has been in the 11 LGAs since 1am on Thursday.

It was with these conflicts in mind that a distressed Warwick High parent reported groups of students went on an excursion to the Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys NRL game at Suncorp Stadium on Friday, but returned to school this week without face masks.

The parent, who did not wish to be named, said she called the government’s Covid hotline to confirm her suspicions before contacting the school, but struggled to make any headway with administration.

“It was a rewards trip, so I’m thinking (the school) should know this rule. They should have thought if we send these kids, they’re going to have to wear masks,” she said.

“My daughter says hardly anyone was wearing them, but my son said a couple of his teachers were. Obviously most don’t think they need to be wearing them.”

A letter sent out to Warwick High parents on Monday stated students who visited any of the 11 affected LGAs “but left before 1am July 31 may attend school without wearing a face mask”.

It also stipulated students residing in any of the LGAs or who visited one on or after 1am Saturday must learn from home or wear a mask at school.

The mother claimed she sent emails back and forth begging the school to double-check their facts and advice, but felt she “wasn’t being listened to” and ultimately took her complaint to Warwick police.

The usually busy Queen Street Mall in Brisbane city is practically empty on day three of lockdown. Lockdown is in place until this Sunday 4pm to stop the spread of the COVID-19 Delta strain. NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

“They weren’t to know there was going to be a lockdown, but the mask mandate was already there. No one knows anything about this outbreak and it’s not under control, so I think it’s best to take any precaution you can,” she said.

Despite the school’s initially adamant stance, Warwick High released another statement on Wednesday advising all students who attended the Brisbane excursion would now need to wear face masks at school for 14 days after the trip.

“Today all students and staff who attended the PBL excursion have been issued with a face mask which must be worn at all times whilst at school to comply with the directive issued by the Chief Health Officer on Sunday, August 1,” the letter read.

“Around the same time as the Department communicated its advice to schools on (Sunday) evening, the health directive was issued for all high school students residing in the 11 impacted LGAs or who had visited (them) since 1am on July 29 to wear masks at school.

“As you would appreciate, this requirement was not applicable to our staff and students before the excursion ... (and) prior to this revised directive, school staff and students had been exempted from wearing masks whilst on school sites.

A Department of Education spokesman confirmed the school “diligently followed” the advice previously provided by the government branch, which had since been overturned to reflect the actual mask mandate.

“This advice has been updated including advice for all staff and students to wear masks if they … have been in a locked down area at any time from 1am on July 29, unless 14 days have passed,” they said.

“Warwick State High School, like all other state schools in Queensland, will ensure it complies with the new directive.”