Face masks
Face masks, while recommended, are not required in any school setting. This means students in grades 3 to 6, staff and visitors in primary schools are no longer required to wear face masks. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at-risk. If you are a household contact you must wear a facemask indoors unless you are under 8 and above or have a medical exemption.
Screening requirements
Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. This was previously 8 weeks.
Household contacts
Students and staff who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are no longer required to quarantine. They can return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times within their 7-day period and wear face masks indoors if they are aged 8 and above unless they have a valid exemption.
If any household contact returns a positive RAT result during this period, they must isolate for 7 days and not attend school.
Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools
Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
Rapid Antigen Test screening program extension reminder
The supply of rapid antigen tests will continue for the remainder of this term. The screening recommendations will change from the 23 of May, students will no longer be recommended to undertake twice weekly RATS. However, RATs will continue to be required by students who are household contacts to attend school (5 negative over a 7 day period) or who have symptoms. We will be distributing the rapid antigen tests via your child’s bag when the deliveries arrive at school.
Influenza
With borders opening and the arrival of colder weather, cases of influenza (the flu) are increasing throughout Victoria. Our community is at risk of higher rates of students and staff affected by the flu or COVID-19 this season.
What to do if your child gets sick
To help keep your child and our school community safe, please take the following steps if your child has any cold or flu-like symptoms:
* take a COVID-19 test and follow the current Department of Health isolation requirements if a positive result is shown https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist-cases
* keep your child at home until their symptoms pass
* common flu-like symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, loss of appetite, body aches and feeling extremely weak and tired
* diagnosis of the flu can only be confirmed by a doctor after a nose or throat swab
* encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and ask them to cover their nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing.
Ensuring your children are protected against serious illness helps to protect everyone in our community, including older family members who may be at higher risk, along with younger children who can’t receive vaccinations yet.
You can book COVID-19 vaccinations through the COVID-19 hotline on 1800 675 398 or at a participating GP, pharmacy, or community health service.
Flu vaccination
Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over.
Some people are more at risk of complications from the flu and are eligible for free vaccination under the National Immunisation Program including:
* anyone aged 65 years and older
* pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
* all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged from 6 months and over
* children aged from 6 months to under 5 years.
COVID-19 vaccines are available free of charge to everyone aged 5 years and over in Australia.
It is important that children and young people have the best possible protection against the flu and COVID-19 by getting vaccinated.
Ensuring your children are protected against serious illness helps to protect everyone in our community, including older family members who may be at higher risk, along with younger children who can’t receive vaccinations yet.
You can book COVID-19 vaccinations through the COVID-19 hotline on 1800 675 398 or at a participating GP, pharmacy, or community health service.
Flu vaccinations can be booked through GPs and pharmacies, many of which can also provide COVID-19 vaccinations. If you would like more information about the flu vaccination, visit the https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
