Some Victorian schools defying health experts’ on coronavirus
Victorian schools — fearful of the deadly coronavirus — have been slammed for defying medical advice and banning healthy kids who recently visited China from returning to class today.
VIC News
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Some Victorian schools are continuing to ask parents to keep students at home if they have visited China, despite health experts advising schools not to exclude healthy students.
At least 15 schools and kindergartens have ordered families who holidayed in the outbreak city of Wuhan, or anywhere in China and even Hong Kong and Taiwan, to keep children at home.
But the nation’s chief medical officers and infectious disease experts unanimously agreed last night that only those displaying symptoms posed a threat.
Education Minister James Merlino said: “Any advice that contradicts this clear and expert medical advice creates confusion and frustration.”
Mr Merlino added the state government would “continue to urge schools, parents, teachers and school staff to follow the advice of the experts when it comes to coronavirus”.
Despite this, the Herald Sun understands at least 15 primary and high schools, kindergartens and even swimming programs banned students from attending, regardless of whether they had flu-like symptoms.
The state government has no power to compel schools to follow its directive.
Most schools will launch into term one today, while some will return tomorrow after a curriculum day.
Adding to the confusion, the NSW government last night defied the national position and changed its advice, urging parents not to send kids to school or daycare if they visited China in the past two weeks.
Parents Victoria chief executive Gail McHardy called for a “blanket approach”, saying some notices to families were “escalating the alarm”.
“If we’re talking about public health matters, there needs to be a consistent approach for all education and early childhood facilities so there’s no room for error,” she said.
“What people are thinking is, ‘Why would one school’s communication be different to another’s?’ ”
A parent in Melbourne’s east yesterday received two letters from his children’s public primary and high schools — just 4km apart — one ordering students to be excluded while the other urged kids to attend.
Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Sue Bell said: “The advice is really clear and I don’t know why a principal would choose not to follow that advice”.
Federal minister Dan Tehan slammed schools for isolating students. “Obviously in the end they will have to answer to their parents, but also they will have to answer to state and territory governments,” he said.
Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton said there was “insufficient evidence” to support isolating anyone who did not already have symptoms including cough and fever.
He advised that children or staff who travelled to Wuhan in China, or any other area with reported cases, were not required to be excluded from school.
However, if they had a confirmed case of coronavirus, or had been in contact with someone that had within 14 days, they should be excluded.
“All the evidence we have seen to date is saying that if you are not symptomatic with coronavirus you are not infectious, and therefore you shouldn’t be excluded from an educational setting, or any other public setting for that matter,” Dr Sutton said.
“We make the most robust recommendations that we possibly can as a collective group of chief health officers and others … there is a very good medical case that we are making, that people who do not have symptoms do not need to be excluded.”
Students at St Leonard’s College in Brighton were due to travel to China as part of an annual education program, but have postponed the trip.
While China battles to contain its coronavirus outbreak, five cases have been confirmed in
Australia. Victoria’s only confirmed coronavirus patient remains isolated in hospital in a non-serious condition, while another 42 Victorians tested have been cleared.
“There are no cases in Victoria that we currently expect to become positive,” Dr Sutton said. “That said, we do have an expectation there will be a lot more testing and potentially more cases.”
Jane Shao, among passengers on China Southern flight CZ321, initially feared for her health but has since been given the all-clear by doctors.
“I have been to my doctor and she says I am perfectly well,” Ms Shao told the Herald Sun.
ADVICE FOR PARENTS
Look out for flu-like symptoms, including fever, sore throat, runny noses, a cough or shortness of breath.
Minimise the spread of illnesses by ensuring children wash their hands regularly.
Teach children to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze.
The health department urges all children to attend school today unless they have a confirmed case of coronavirus or have been in contact with someone who has.
Some independent schools are excluding children who have visited China, Taiwan or Hong Kong, or been in a household with someone who has, for a maximum of 14 days.
Catholic Education Melbourne is following the advice of the Health Department and urging students to attend school.
If you suspect you or your child may have novel coronavirus, call the hotline on 1800 675 398.
For more information go to dhhs.vic.gov.au/information-public-novel-coronavirus.
WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS
The latest coronavirus threat originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, prompting a public health warning on December 30, with 27 people reportedly suffering flu-like symptoms.
It is believed the pneumonia-like virus jumped from animals to humans at a market in the city, fuelling the outbreak of a virus that begins with a fever, cough, sore throat, breathing difficulties and tiredness.
By Tuesday afternoon there had been 106 confirmed deaths and the number of known cases in China had reached 4515, though that number is expected to skyrocket as several cities in the Chinese province of Hubei are quarantined.
There have been no deaths connected to the novel coronavirus outside China.
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Five cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Australia, including four in NSW and a man in his 50s in Melbourne, who is now isolated in hospital in a stable condition.
Another 42 Victorians have been cleared of coronavirus after being tested, while a further 13 Victorians await the results of laboratory tests.
As the Chinese outbreak spreads around the world, 14 cases have also been confirmed in Thailand, Hong Kong has eight infections, while the US, Taiwan and Macau have each had five cases. Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia have each reported confirmed cases, while there are three cases in France, two in Canada and Vietnam, and single infections in Nepal, Cambodia and Germany.