School reopens, TAFE students contacted after coronavirus cases on Sydney’s north shore
More than 70 students and staff have been told to self-isolate over fears they came into contact with a schoolgirl with coronavirus. There are also fears for students at a north shore TAFE campus after one of the students also tested positive.
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More than 70 students and staff have been asked to self-isolate after a student was diagnosed with coronavirus at a high school on Sydney’s north shore.
Students at Willoughby Girls High School returned to class on Wednesday morning after a Year 7 student was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 on Monday.
The alert prompted more than 900 students sent home just after 11am as cleaners worked to disinfect rooms into Tuesday.
Several students wore face masks and some reported feeling “nervous about going back” as lessons resumed on Wednesday.
NSW Health said authorities were still investigating how the Year 7 student contracted the virus.
A Department of Education spokesman said 73 students and staff identified as close contacts of the student have been asked to self-isolate and not return to school for 14 days.
The spokesman said students would have access to lessons and content via Edmodo and Google Classroom.
NSW Health on Wednesday meanwhile confirmed another person who contracted COVID-19 was found to have attended the nearby St Leonards TAFE on two days while infectious.
Authorities said they had been able to reach 20 of the 21 people who came into contact with the patient and would continue to follow up with the last person on Wednesday.
“Although it has been more than 14 days since the last day of attendance by the confirmed case, NSW Health has been contacting all other students and teachers in these classes,” the department said.
The Selective High School Placement Test, due to be held at Willoughby Girls High School on Thursday, has meanwhile been relocated to Cammeraygal High School Junior Campus in Crows Nest.
The Department of Education said “some parents had expressed concern for the safety of their children sitting the test during the current COVID-19 situation”.
A spokesman said “infection control procedures” would be in place at Willoughby Girls High School including hand sanitiser provided to staff and students on school grounds.
“The school will promote the need for staff and students to remain at home if they are unwell,” he said.
“Those who become unwell will be sent home and asked to remain away until they are well.”
A close contact is a person who has spent significant time face-to-face (15 minutes) or in an enclosed space (two hours or more).
NSW Health on Wednesday said Royal North Shore Hospital will also be added to the list of public hospitals where COVID-19 testing can be conducted.