The NSW Government has banned choirs and the use of wind instruments as well as school formals, dances, graduations and other social events under new guidelines announced today.
The updated COVID Safe guidelines for all NSW schools will come into effect this Wednesday and follow a spate of COVID-19 infections and clusters at schools in recent weeks.
Despite repeated assurance that schools are safe, there have been a number of school closures in recent weeks.
It comes after Laguna Street Public School at Caringbah was closed for almost two weeks after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 back in June.
The large cluster at Tangara School for Girls at Cherrybrook grew to 25 yesterday, after three new COVID-19 cases diagnosed to 8pm on Saturday were linked to the school.
There are four confirmed cases at Our Lady of Mercy College at Parramatta.
Both schools have been closed.
Meanwhile, one of the state's top schools, Sydney Girls High School, is non-operational for on-site learning today due to a confirmed case of COVID-19, causing the cancellation of a planned trial HSC exam.
The NSW Department of Education was advised by NSW Health yesterday that a student had tested positive for COVID-19.
The school is "non-operational for on-site attendance of staff and students to allow time for the school to complete contact tracing and have the school cleaned", the department said.
All staff and students have been asked to self-isolate while contact tracing occurs.
The school is a selective high school and draws high-performing students from across Sydney, increasing the chances of widespread community transmission.
A trial HSC examination due to take place at the school today will not go ahead and will be rescheduled for a later date.
The department said further information will be provided today about when the school will resume on-site learning.
"The safety and well-being of our staff and students is of paramount importance to us at all times. As such we will continue to work closely with NSW Health to ensure that all necessary health advice is adhered to," the department said.
The NSW Government said an updated health advice announced today would ensure that NSW public schools could continue to operate full-time with face-to face-teaching and learning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Schools remain safe, however, school communities must remain vigilant," the advice said.
"From Wednesday, August 19, all public schools in NSW will be required to adopt the changes to ensure school communities remain safe inside and outside the school gate.
"Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 is prohibited from returning to school until a negative test result has been reported."
Under additional measures for term 3:
- Students must remain within their relevant class or year group to limit mixing
- Schools must not travel outside their local community or zone, including between rural and regional areas
- Interschool sport and zone carnivals are restricted to 100 people per venue and must be held in the local area
- Spectators, including parents and carers, are not permitted within school grounds or at sporting events held during school hours
- All group singing and or other chanting activities, as well as the use of wind instruments in group settings are not permitted
- Dance activities and drama group work can continue under a COVID-19 Safety Plan
- School formals, dances, graduation or other social events are not permitted. Schools may hold a year 12 assembly at school without parents to recognise the completion of school or consider delaying events until later in the year.
The government said "HSC students are permitted to undertake activities to meet their HSC requirements with COVID-19 safety measures in place".
"Organisations that use school buildings or grounds must have a COVID-19 safety plan in place and encourage strict compliance with that plan," the department said.
"The new restrictions will complement existing health advice for schools, including maintaining good hand hygiene inside and outside the classroom, physical distancing for adults and banning non-essential school visitors."
Details: To view the full list of changes click here.