By Argyro Vourdoumpa.
New South Wales school closures will be the “new normal” under coronavirus easing, according to Premier Gladys Berejiklian, after two private schools in Sydney’s eastern suburbs were closed on Tuesday for cleaning, following positive cases among students.
“This is the new normal during the pandemic,” Ms Berejiklian told the Nine Network.
“We have to be prepared for this to happen again … because this happens in two schools with one student each doesn’t mean you shut down the entire system,” she added.
Meanwhile, Greek schools across Australia have lifted their hygiene standards and encourage students to follow good hygiene practices, in order to reduce the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission.
“All staff and students temperatures are taken on arrival, we perform additional environmental cleaning throughout the day, we have placed antibacterial wipes in each learning space around the school and we make sure students are reminded to wash their hands frequently,” said the principal of All Saints Grammar Greek Orthodox School in NSW, Elfa Lillis.
“This has been a most challenging time for all but our community has really come together and offered unwavering support and shown gratitude to the staff of All Saints for how they have risen to the occasion.”
Infectious disease experts say it is “extremely rare” to see COVID-19 cases among children, an age group not considered highly infectious amid the pandemic, compared to the flu.
