COVID-19 update: How Cairns schools are faring a week after classes resumed

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The Queensland Department of Education says classes will be called off as a last resort, as COVID-19 impacts Cairns school communities.

Tropic Now understands most local schools have had cases since face-to-face learning began a week ago.

According to a text message sent to parents, Edge Hill State School has recorded infections in 15 classes across every year level except prep.

“The following classes now have confirmed positive COVID cases,” it reads.

“1D, 1E, 2E, 3C, 3F, 4C, 4B, 4A, 4E, 5D, 5E, 5G, 6B, 6D, 6C.

“Please monitor your child and family for symptoms and follow Queensland Health directions.”

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Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard says 963 cases have been reported in school children statewide in the past 24 hours – which is more than a quarter of all daily cases.

527 are aged five to 11 and 436 are in the 12 to 17 year age group.

“It's only been just on a week since children have gone back to school, so what will happen this week will certainly be interesting, we'll be watching that very closely,” Dr Gerrard said.

“We had very significant numbers of cases in children three weeks ago, which have been coming down.

“The degree of immunity in school-aged children is still not clear so exactly what is going to happen over the next week or two among children in school isn't clear.”

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The Department of Education did not answer Tropic Now’s request for more statistics specific to Cairns schools.

However, a spokesperson said if a student becomes symptomatic at school, they’ll be isolated and their parents or carers will need to pick them up.

“When the student is collected, the parent or carer will be offered a Rapid Antigen Test to administer at home,” they said.

“Alternatively, all students and staff have priority access to testing at Queensland Health clinics.

“If the test result is negative and the student is well, they can return to school.”

Currently, high school students need to wear a mask both indoors and outdoors unless they are seated or are able to physically distance.

Students in Years 3–6 are encouraged to wear a mask.

The Department of Education says any decision to close a school will be made on a case-by-case basis.

“All States and Territories reached agreement at National Cabinet that schools should only be closed as a last resort,” they said.

“However, if higher than usual absenteeism due to COVID positive cases is recorded, schools and the department will work closely with the public health unit to see if any additional measures need to be put in place.

“Given the diversity of our schools there is no one size fits all approach.”

Across the entire Queensland population there have been 3,750 new COVID cases in the most recent reporting period.

514 people are receiving hospital care and 41 of those are in ICU.

A further six people with COVID-19 have died.