Unvaccinated teachers could return to classroom

As Tasmanian students prepare to head back to the classroom, there’s the chance they might be taught by an unvaccinated teacher. LATEST>>

As students prepare to head back to the classroom, it’s been confirmed unvaccinated teachers might soon be able to return to work at Tasmanian public schools, after a vaccination mandate was introduced in February.

Education minister Roger Jaensch said the policy was being reviewed and the department was considering removing the requirement.

“That is a very tiny proportion of the overall staff of the department and of our teaching population, we’re talking about less than one per cent,” Mr Jaensch said.

Minister Roger Jaensch. Last sitting day of parliament before the Winter break. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Jaensch could not say whether measures would be taken to ensure unvaccinated teachers did not work with vulnerable children.

“The decisions behind earlier mandates that still apply for staff in our schools was to ensure we had as many people in our school environments vaccinated,” Mr Jaensch said.

“This was to protect our workforce and ensure schools can stay open.

“We’ve been able to achieve a very high, nationally high level of vaccination in Tasmania that’s served us very well.”

Mr Jaensch said it was safe for students to return to school.

“Our approach continues to be safe, measured and flexible, ramping up or down as required,” Mr Jaensch said.

“This could mean extra Covid safe measures such as face masks and reducing large gatherings are brought back into individual school sites that may be experiencing increased cases.”

He said options were available for students unable to attend school.

“If your child is well enough to attend school they should be at school,” Mr Jaensch said.

“If students are required to isolate, the virtual learning centre remains an option for students to continue their learning from home.”

A woman in her thirties from the state’s south was among four new Covid related deaths recorded on Friday.

A woman in her 80s from the north, a woman in her 90s from the south and a man in his 80s from the south also passed away.

“I’m advised that the woman in her thirties who has died, that Covid was a contributing factor to her death but not the cause of her death,” education minister Roger Jaensch said.

There were 1416 new Covid cases confirmed overnight, and 172 hospital patients testing positive to the virus.

Royal Hobart Hospital. Pic: Richard Jupe.

Of those, 53 are being treated specifically for Covid and there are two people in the ICU and one person on a ventilator.

All of Tasmania’s hospitals are operating at level 3 escalation, with 383 staff currently furloughed.

298 of the staff members have tested positive for Covid and 85 are close contacts.

“There’s no doubt our hospitals are feeling the strain, both from the numbers of Covid cases and the impact on staffing,” chief medical officer Tony Lawler said.

There are also outbreaks at 27 aged care facilities across Tasmania.

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