It comes as more than 35 schools have been listed as exposure sites, with Holy Rosary Primary School in White Hills, near Bendigo, having the biggest outbreak in Victoria with 47 active cases. Other schools with dozens of active cases include Our Lady of the Southern Cross Primary School in Manor Lakes with 44 cases and Nhill College with 41 cases. Deakin University Chair of Epidemiology Professor Catherine Bennett said rapid antigen tests needed to be prioritised in schools. NED-5103-Covid-clusters-in-schools“We’ve got people buying rapid antigen tests in the community but we should be prioritising them for schools … our paediatricians are recommending for tests to stay,” Prof Bennett said. Australian Education Union Victorian Branch president Meredith Peace said: “School closures, which can be necessary to prevent the spread of Covid-19, naturally create stress and disruption for school communities.” “Our members are reporting that the requirements around contact tracing, community communications and maintaining ongoing Covid-safe measures have increased what were already excessive workloads,” Ms Peace said. Victorian Principals’ Association president Andrew Dalgleish said outbreaks were causing challenges for staff. “From a principal’s perspective we are waiting for that dreaded call because we are dealing with primary schools that have unvaccinated students,” Mr Dalgleish said.In other developments frustrating parents, some Covid testing sites are not handing out rapid antigen kits, which are no longer provided by schools. The Herald Sun has been told some parents are being forced to buy them for up to $60, despite assurances they would be provided.Unvaccinated parents and siblings are also becoming more frustrated at not being able to attend end-of-year school events. Many schools are also having difficulty meeting complicated Covid-safe directives. A state government spokeswoman said most schools did not close during outbreaks, with 94 per cent of schools exposed in the past two weeks remaining open.“We’re continuing to provide optional rapid antigen tests at all state testing sites for close contacts to use once they return to school,” she said.“There is no shortage of rapid tests at any testing sites.”
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