Waverley College and Moriah College coronavirus: Sydney schools close due to COVID-19

Two eastern suburbs schools in Sydney have closed due to coronavirus, with students sent home from both campuses. NSW Health is working to alert people who may be at risk from the disease.

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A second school in Sydney’s east has been hit by coronavirus and forced to close.

Orthodox Jewish School Moriah College shut its doors on Tuesday after a case linked to the school was confirmed.

It comes just hours after neighbouring Waverley College was evacuated and closed when a student there tested positive to the deadly disease.

Moriah students were reportedly in the process of being escorted off campus from lunchtime.

“The college received confirmation from NSW Health shortly before noon that a student in our community has tested positive to COVID-19,” a Moriah College spokeswoman said.

Children on their way home after the school was unexpectedly shut. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“We have now activated our COVID-19 Positive Diagnosis School Response Plan. The student was in attendance on our campus, on Thursday, 21 May 2020.”

The school is expected to remain closed until next week as cleaners thoroughly sanatise the Queens Park campus.

At Waverley College, parents were told to come and collect their children from the school this morning.

School buildings will be subject to a deep clean and closed for a period of time, a Waverley representative said. Close contacts of the year 7 are being notified and asked to self isolate.

Waverley College resumed normal operations last Monday, after it had moved to online teaching.

It comes after a boy from St Ignatius College Riverview tested positive for the virus last week.

Waverley College texted parents at 9.05am to collect their sons.

“Urgent advice: a member of the Senior Campus has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation,” it said.

“As a precaution, we ask that you collect your son immediately from Birrell St and Carrington Road gates.

“Health NSW will conduct contact tracing and we undertake a deep clean of the campus.

Teachers donned masks as they made their way through the school. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“We will be in contact with those who have had close contact and will need to isolate.”

A school spokeswoman said they were working with NSW Health after the student returned an initial positive test.

“Waverley College is cooperating with NSW Health after we were notified this morning of a possible case of coronavirus COVID-19 in our community, a Year 7 student,” she said.

Waverley College quickly closed the school after the diagnosis. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“We immediately activated our critical response to get the boys home quickly and safely.”

“Waverley College has been preparing for coronavirus for months and we have the procedures in place to deliver schooling online in the event of an extended closure.”

The student did not attend school on Monday but was in attendance last week.