How Covid-19 shut down school in first week of term 1

A West Australian primary school has been closed down in the first week of term 1 after Covid-19 was detected at the facility.

A school has been shut down in Perth after a teacher tested positive for Covid-19, while two other new infections recorded overnight remain a mystery.

Western Australia recorded 29 new cases overnight – 17 local infections, 11 linked to interstate travel and one related to overseas travel.

Among the local cases, 15 are linked to current outbreaks, while two remain a mystery.

All cases are now in quarantine but one was infectious in the community.

Winterfold Primary School in Beaconsfield has been shut down after a teacher tested positive.

A sign at the school said WA Health had directed the education facility to temporarily close while cleaning and contact tracing was undertaken.

“The school will remain closed until further information is provided by the Department of Education,” principal Steve Berry wrote.

Education Minister Sue Ellery provided details of the school infection. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

Education Minister Sue Ellery revealed on Wednesday that the teacher attended a whole school staff professional development day on January 28, then the room 11 classroom on January 31.

“There are around about 55 staff who attended that professional development day and 27 students in that classroom on Monday – and they are quarantined for 14 days,” she told reporters.

Ms Ellery commended everyone at the school for their professionalism in dealing with the situation, adding that the school would reopen on Thursday for people not required to quarantine.

“I spoke with the principal late yesterday afternoon, and I know that he leads a strong and engaged school community who will support each other,” she said.

“It has been an unsettling period since yesterday afternoon for that school community.

“I want to reassure them that all of the arrangements and protocols that needed to be in place and to be followed were and that arrangements are in place to return to safe learning … from tomorrow for those not quarantined.”

There will be replacement staff for the next two weeks.

During a lengthy grilling from reporters, Ms Ellery said it was an unusual situation because the teacher had attended a professional development day, and indicated an entire school would not be forced to shut down otherwise.

She also noted the school was only closed for one day.

WA Premier Mark McGowan revealed two new cases remained a mystery and one person was infectious in the community. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Premier Mark McGowan added that WA schools had only been shut for a handful of days during the pandemic, compared to other states where education facilities had been closed for much longer periods.

Meanwhile, WA’s double-dose vaccination rate for people aged 12 and over is now at 91.9 per cent.

The third-dose vaccination rate for people aged 16 and over is at 37.6 per cent, with the rate increasing by about one per cent per day this year.

Mr McGowan said the state government would launch a two-week third-dose vaccination blitz on February 7, with about 40,000 additional appointments at state-run clinics.

WA is also currently experiencing a food supply issue after floods damaged rail lines in South Australia.

The Premier urged people not to panic buy after shelves were left empty in supermarkets.

“I just urge people not to panic buy. Make sure you only use what you need,” he said.

“We’re doing everything we can, in conjunction with the Commonwealth government, to get as many supplies in place.”

Mr McGowan said the disruption was expected to last a few weeks.

“Floods and cyclones are part of the Australian environment, and obviously this was not really something foreseeable considering it’s apparently a one in 200-year event,” he said.