The Department of Education has announced new measures to help students, teachers and staff return to schools on 7 February.
Masks will be required for all staff and high school students — and highly encouraged for most primary school students — when classes resume.
Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) will also be available to students and staff who develop symptoms while at school, while those who develop symptoms at home will have priority access to RATs at Queensland Health clinics.
Minister for Education, Grace Grace said vaccination for staff and volunteers would also be mandatory.
“Our $477 million Cleaner Cooler Schools Program is almost complete, meaning nearly all schools across the State have air conditioning which helps with ventilation,” Ms Grace said.
“However, we are introducing these additional measures to help minimise the impact of Omicron in our schools,” she said.
The Minister said consistent with health advice, regular surveillance rapid antigen testing would not be required in schools.
“There is no health advice to indicate this is needed in Queensland,” she said.
“Instead, all students and staff will have priority access to RATs from local testing clinics if they develop symptoms.
“Of course, anyone who has symptoms should absolutely not come into school, but if staff or students develop symptoms while at school, they will be provided with a RAT to take home.”
Ms Grace said if there were outbreaks of COVID-19 in schools, Queensland Health would deploy additional RATs to clinics near those locations to meet the need.
