Kempsey Adventist School locked down after two Covid cases

A religious school where some teachers allegedly shared information on how to obtain false Covid vaccination exemptions has been locked down after two positive cases in the community.

A mid north coast school where some teachers allegedly obtained false vaccination exemptions from an elderly GP has been locked down after two members of the school community tested positive for Covid-19.

Kempsey Adventist School and another local school closed on Wednesday for deep cleaning, according to the Macleay Argus.

Some teachers had shared a flyer advertising exemption certificates from Lake Macquarie GP, Dr John Evans, who admitted to police last Friday he had given out 400 exemption certificates and was preparing another 330.

The school said in a statement to parents on Wednesday: “We have been advised that two members of the school community have tested positive to Covid-19. As a result, KAS will be closed effective immediately to allow for a deep clean of the site.”

The Argus reported the school would remain closed until Friday and staff and students had been asked to self-isolate.

Police referred Dr Evans to health authorities who are investigating his actions after the 84-year-old came out of retirement and supplied the certificates over email after phone consultations. He has not been charged.

The school has been approached for comment.

Police interviewed Dr Evans after a whistleblower called into the Ray Hadley radio show about teachers at the Kempsey Seventh-day Adventist school using the certificates.

The church has now established a review panel with “external medical and legal advisers who will assess” any certificates teachers may offer up to try to bypass the November 8 deadline to be vaccinated.

Pockets of anti-vaccinations sentiment are popping up throughout NSW. This sign is not connected the doctor. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Scott Powick

The doctor did not respond to calls, but a voicemail message for the phone number on a flyer being shared by the reli­gious community in Kempsey referred to the scheme as having ended last Thursday.

“We are no longer taking on any new exemption patients as our books are now full,” the message said.

“If you have had a consultation or sent an email prior to this date and time (COB Thursday) your paperwork will still be processed.”

Dr Evans had been retired but it is understood that he returned to practise last year.

People would merely call and ask for an exemption, which would then be emailed.

Karen Price, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said the issuing of exemption certificates was a huge problem as vaccine mandates kicked in.

“This sounds disturbing. We are hearing that there is a lot of demand for these medical exemptions but legitimate medical exemptions for vaccines are vanishingly rare,” she said.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church said it was fully supportive of vaccinations and was “deeply concerned by these allegations and will be fully supportive of any police investigation”.

“All Adventist schools in NSW will be fully compliant with the Public Health Orders as required on November 8, 2021,” the church said.
“The Seventh-day Adventist Church is … encouraging our members to be vaccinated.”

The next steps in any investigation would be with the Health Care Complaints Commission and the Medical Council of NSW. Neither ­responded to media queries.

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