Schools in St George and Sutherland Shire remain open despite coronavirus fears

In a move that has divided the public, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said yesterday keeping schools open was in the "national public interest" to protect jobs amid fears the health sector in particular would struggle to cope if parents were unable to go to work.

Australia's chief medical officer Brendan Murphy backed up the view and said it had been decided schools should remain open "at this time", although there could be localised school closures if a "big outbreak" of coronavirus occurred.

The decision to keep schools open and at the same time introduce tougher restrictions on crowd gatherings has angered many.

While non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people have been banned by the federal government and social-distancing, including keeping 1.5 metres from others, is being encouraged, many argue this is not possible in a school setting, where suggested hygiene measures are also difficult to enforce.

In the meantime, schools have introduced measures to try to limit transmission and teachers have been preparing for a shutdown, if it happens.

As at yesterday, no NSW public schools are non-operational due to COVID-19.

The NSW Department of Education said it had introduced a range of proactive measures to limit the impact of COVID-19 in schools.

"We continue to work closely with NSW Health and the Australian government to monitor and respond to developments and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff," it said, adding schools had adopted social distancing measures, including cancelling or postponing:

Parents are also asked to keep their children home from school if either they or a member of their family is unwell with a respiratory illness.

The Education Department yesterday provided advice to schools on health and hygiene practices.

It said enhanced cleaning will take place in all schools from March 18, and all schools would receive additional provisions of soap and hygiene supplies, such as hand sanitiser.

Sydney Catholic Schools spokesman Michael Hopkinson said a number of measures had been introduced across the 152 schools in the Sydney metropolitan area, which have 70,000 students.

"All of our schools are open. That being said, a range of activities have been cancelled until further notice," Mr Hopkinson said

He said these include all gatherings, including Mass and liturgies, school assemblies, internal and external sporting activities, teacher professional training and Parents & Friends meetings.

Mr Hopkinson said Sydney Catholic Schools was working with NSW Education Department secretary Mark Scott and Australian Independent Schools chief executive Dr Geoff Newcombe.

He said Catholic schools would not break ranks and close as this would lead to a breach of funding requirements.

Some media outlets are reporting today that Mr Morrison and Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan have been putting pressure on Catholic and independent schools to stay open.

Catholic schools were thought to be close to announcing a closure when Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher intervened and ordered 11 Catholic dioceses to keep schools open.

Mr Hopkinson said Sydney Catholic Schools had in recent days built a platform for online learning in the event schools do close.

"What I can say with 100 per cent confidence is if the government should call for a closure our schools will be well placed to support our families," he said.

"At the moment we have parents who are choosing to keep their children at home," he said, although he could not provide absentee numbers and would now know how many absences were related to fears over coronavirus.

For more information about NSW Public Schools click here.

For more information about Catholic Schools click here.