New Covid isolation rules for children in schools, kinder, childcare

Parents have hailed the easing of restrictions and isolation rules in schools as “great news” but there are concerns about rapid antigen tests.

School students now do not have to isolate after covid exposure, but masks will remain in many educational settings.

New rules taking effect on Friday morning mean children in schools, kinders and childcare centres who are close contacts of positive cases can return to onsite learning after posting a negative PCR test.

This will be supplemented by rapid antigen testing for five to seven days in many educational institutions.

Staff and visitors to schools and students in years three to six are still required to wear masks inside and institutions will have to do their own contact tracing for positive cases. However, schools will no longer have to undergo deep cleaning and close contacts do not have to be cleared by the DHHS.

Rapid antigen tests are in use at about 100 schools. Picture: Ian Currie

It comes as more than 50 schools are battling large outbreaks across the state and up to 100 more have small numbers of cases.

Haileybury ELC and junior school is among the latest campuses to report positive cases among its student body.

Parents hailed the easing of restrictions and isolation requirements as “great news” although some are concerned about getting access to rapid antigen tests.

It’s understood the tests, which were to have been delivered to all schools by Monday, November 15, are in use at about 100 schools.

But parents and principals in schools which are not in hotspot areas — such as St Kilda, Brighton East, Elwood and Albert Park — are yet to receive their rapid tests.

Peta Wetzels, president of the school council at St Kilda Primary, said parents have been very frustrated at having to stay home and supervise children forced to isolate for 14 days.

“International visitors are returning, so at the very least we should have kids back at school,” she said.

“Parents are now thrilled at these changes but the problem is how do we get the tests so kids can go back tomorrow?”

Deputy chief health officer Ben Cowie said students who are primary close contacts will be “required to isolate and to get a negative PCR test, as is currently the case. Then they’re able to return to school with the use of antigen tests to ensure they’re still under surveillance. So they don’t need to be in isolation for 14 days before they come back.”

Parents have hailed the easing of restrictions and isolation requirements as ‘great news’. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Any staff member who tests positive is required to tell their school, kinder or childcare centre, meaning principals and staff will have to do their own contact tracing.

Schools will no longer have to undergo deep cleaning and close contacts do not have to be cleared by the DHHS.

In other changes announced on Thursday, children under 12 who are deemed household contacts will be treated as if they are fully vaccinated, provided their entire household is double jabbed.

In addition, the time in quarantine for a Covid-positive case will be reduced to just 10 days, down from 14.

Household contacts who have had more than four hours of contact with a case inside a household must isolate for seven days if fully vaccinated, or 14 days if not vaccinated. They will be required to get a PCR test on day zero, and then another test to be released.