Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a partial resumption of schools from next week, with kindergarten, prep, year 1 and years 11 and 12 to return to school on May 11.
Key points:
- Queensland's youngest and oldest school students to return to classrooms from May 11
- If this goes to plan, all other students will return to school on May 25
- Police Commissioner says most people did the right thing as rules relaxed on the weekend
Ms Palaszczuk said the State Government would reassess the situation on May 15 and that, if everything went to plan, all students would return to classrooms from May 25.
"We know how important the early years are, and especially the senior school years," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"This has been an issue for a lot of people and I know it's been really tough on parents at home."
The Premier said the plan was subject to change if there was an increase in coronavirus cases, or any new cases of community transmission or localised outbreaks.
State Education Minister Grace Grace said it was essential for anyone who was unwell to stay away from schools.
Ms Grace said increased cleaning would be undertaken at schools, and protocols around social distancing would remain in place.
"If low transmission rates continue, students from years 2 to 10 will be able return from May 25," Ms Grace said.
She said the reopening would be subject to an ongoing ban on large school gatherings such as assemblies or excursions.
Crowds at Burleigh Hill dispersed, house party shut down
The decision comes after an easing of restrictions on the weekend, allowing Queenslanders to gather in parks and public places.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said Queenslanders had behaved well over the weekend, with some exceptions.
"I think Queenslanders have done amazing this weekend, there were a lot of people out," Commissioner Carroll said.
More than 900 officers worked across the state to ensure the public were enjoying their new freedoms appropriately.
On the Gold Coast, police dispersed crowds at Burleigh Hill and shut down an AirBnB party at Carrara where 25 infringement notices were issued.
"I think we should continue with this, however if we have the blatant disregard, and a lot of it, it will jeopardise what we're trying to achieve," the Commissioner said.
Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said police attended the same Carrara property twice over the weekend, issuing 25 fines to people having parties.
"The people involved have shown a blatant disregard for the Chief Health Officer's directions."
Chief Superintendent Wheeler described the crowd gathered at Burleigh as "really unfortunate".
"That group of people was far too large for the area they were in," he said.
"I've since asked City of Gold Coast to install some barriers and some signage, we will increase our police presence there this afternoon and this evening and we will not be so tolerant on this occasion.
"I think people have had plenty of warnings, people understand that social distancing is a requirement and if this continues we have no other option but to issue those $1,334 infringements."
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said she was pleased "the vast majority" of people had been careful over the weekend.
Dr Young said there had been three new COVID-19 cases confirmed overnight and testing rates had fallen most likely due to the low overall rate of respiratory infection across the state.
"Could anybody who's feeling at all unwell please go and get tested?" Dr Young said.
She said it was essential school communities avoided congregating in large groups.
"A lot of work will need to be done next week with parents and schools to sort out those areas we're most concerned about, which is actually drop-off and pick up," Dr Young said.
"That's when people congregate, that's when adults congregate, and that's actually the biggest risk in all this."
'We're in a different situation'
Ms Grace said the plan to reopen schools was put in place after "extensive consultations" with education stakeholders, and that the circumstances in Queensland should not be compared to any other state.
"We're in a bit of a different situation from New South Wales and Victoria," she said.
"I must admit I got concerned this morning when I heard about the case in a Victorian school, and a New South Wales school, but I understand they're looking to do contact tracing to find where those cases came from.
"But we believe this is a good plan, and fully endorsed by Dr Young.
"Obviously the children of essential workers and vulnerable children will continue as they have been."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiWGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA1LTA0L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXF1ZWVuc2xhbmQtc2Nob29scy10by1yZW9wZW4vMTIyMTEwMDbSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTIyMTEwMDY?oc=5
2020-05-04 03:20:51Z
52780764061695
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Partial reopening of Queensland schools from next week as coronavirus restrictions continue to ease - ABC News"
Post a Comment