State Government commits to keeping schools open

The Government has no immediate plans to close schools in the state, saying for many families schools “will be the safest place” for their children.

THE State Government is standing firm amid calls to close schools due to the coronavirus outbreak, saying shutting them down could be counter-productive to students’ overall health.

Opposition members renewed their push for action during Question Time on Thursday, arguing closing schools was a sensible measure to contain the spread of the virus.

Greens MPs Cassy O’Connor and Rosalie Woodruff said there was a growing sense among teachers, parents and medical professionals that it was the best course of action.

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Ms O’Connor noted news from the UK overnight that it had closed schools to mitigate the risk of the virus spreading.

“Tasmania has the oldest, sickest and poorest population of any state,” she said.

“There is high vulnerability.”

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The Greens leader suggested an extension to the Easter holidays in Tasmanian schools as a response to limit the effects of the growing pandemic.

But Premier Peter Gutwein and Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff both said the “routine and normality” of school was beneficial for the health and wellbeing of young people.

“For many in our community, schools will be the safest place for their children,” Mr Gutwein said.

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

However, both said a school would be closed immediately if it recorded a confirmed case.

Mr Gutwein noted a number of school-related events – such as assemblies, presentation nights, fetes and fairs – had been cancelled due to coronavirus.

He said the Government would take a cautionary approach and would act on the advice of health experts before it would consider moving to implement school closures.

But Dr Woodruff, also an epidemiologist, said social distancing could not work properly in a school situation.

“While children don’t often get sick with COVID-19, they can still spread the virus to families and to vulnerable family members,” she said.

Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Dr Woodruff said many students travelled to school on buses, magnifying the risk of spread.

“Rather than waiting to close schools until Tasmania is much further advanced in a state of epidemic, which is tragically what has happened in the UK, will you act to close schools now? she asked Mr Rockliff.

Mr Rockliff said the Government was taking a measured approach but said the importance of routine for students could not be underestimated.

He said for many parts of the community, school offered more than just a place of education.

Mr Rockliff said schools also offered a safe place and wrap-around services, which he said was especially important for children at high levels of disadvantage.

“If school sites should close at a point in time, a lot of work is being done for home learning options,” he said.