COVID update - Face Masks, Testing and Isolation
Dear parents and carers,
We are writing to you as parents/carers of a child or children in government, Catholic and independent schools across Victoria.
The Victorian Department of Health strongly recommends that face masks are worn in indoor settings.
As a result, we are asking all students aged 8 and over and all staff in all schools across Victoria to wear masks when in class (except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication) from now to the end of winter.
Students won’t be required or expected to wear masks when outdoors, and this expectation won’t stop student participation in the full range of school activities, including music, sport and performances.
We are asking for your support in explaining to your child or children the importance of this simple step that will help keep our schools as safe as possible.
We also ask that you make sure your child (or children) takes a mask to school (and wears it if they are travelling on public transport) or collects a mask when they arrive at school.
We all appreciate how important it is for students to be back at school. This action will help make sure as many students and staff as possible are protected from COVID and other winter illness.
Thank for your help with this collective effort to keep our communities safe and healthy.
Dr David Howes, Deputy Secretary Victorian Department of Education and Training
Michelle Green, Chief Executive Independent Schools Victoria
Jim Miles,Executive Director Catholic Education Commission of Victoria
Changes to Exemption Period for Testing and Isolation
The period of time when someone is considered a recently confirmed case and therefore exempt from testing and isolation requirements has been reduced from the previous 12 weeks to four (4) weeks.
This means that staff and students who have recovered from COVID-19 are not required to get tested or isolate if they are re-exposed to a positive COVID-19 case within four weeks of ending their isolation period. Previously, this exemption period was 12 weeks.
After the four-week exemption period, staff and students must follow the relevant testing and isolation advice depending on the type of COVID-19 contact they are.
Families will need to to report being a household contact to the school after this four-week period.