Returning Safely to the Classroom

As everyone settles into Term 1 it’s important to revisit the following precautions to reduce the spread of Covid-19:

• Maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres where practicable including in office spaces and lunch/break rooms.
• Open windows during the day to promote air flow if weather permits.
• Consider room setup and activity placement, limit the number of whole group activities.
• Space out workstations as much as possible and limit the number of staff in offices.

Masks

Masks must be worn indoors across Queensland, unless exempt. Generally, teachers (primary and high school) and childcare workers are required to wear masks while standing or moving about indoors but may remove their mask when seated or if able to maintain a 1.5 metre distance from others while teaching or interacting with students or children. A face shield could be used if visibility of the mouth is essential for teaching. Masks can be removed when outdoors if 1.5 metres distance can be maintained from others.

There are some exceptions to wearing a face mask, including:

• children under 12
• performing work where clear visibility of the mouth is required, e.g. a speech therapist in a hospital or healthcare setting.
• where a mask needs to be removed to clearly communicate
• a person with a particular medical condition or disability

A person who removes their face mask under an exemption must resume wearing a face mask as soon as practical. Learn more about mask exemptions here.

Isolation

Requirements for isolation, testing and quarantine of confirmed cases and close contacts have changed.

If you have COVID-19, you need to be isolated for 7 full days after taking the test that gave you the positive COVID-19 result. You must not have a fever, sore throat, runny nose, or a cough that is bad or getting worse, on day 7 of your isolation. If you do, you will need to remain in isolation until those symptoms have gone away. You do not need another COVID-19 test to end your isolation period. Learn more at https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/i-have-covid/isolation/how-to-isolate

If you are a close contact, you need to quarantine for 7 days. Get tested on day 6 of your quarantine period. You can get tested using a RAT kit or a PCR test. If the test result is negative and you have no COVID-19 symptoms on day 7 of your quarantine period, you can end quarantine. Learn more https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/exposed-to-covid/close-contacts

Ventilation

Ventilation is one part of a suite of measures that may be used to minimise transmission of COVID-19, along with vaccination, physical distancing, good hygiene, cleaning, wearing of masks and the correct operation and maintenance of air conditioning units.

Ventilation of learning spaces can be provided naturally (through opening of windows and doors when safe to do so, or relocating learning to outdoor settings) or mechanically, via ventilation and air conditioning systems that introduce fresh air from outside.

Ensure air conditioners are maintained, clean and functioning properly. Systems should be serviced regularly and filters checked, cleaned and replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Where possible, ensure air conditioner settings draw air from outside and are not set to recirculate indoor air.

Use of fans

Where fresh air is available, ceiling fans can be used to further improve air circulation.

If a fan is not functioning, the fan should be repaired following normal processes.

Other fans, such as pedestal fans, should not be directed to blow air from one person directly past another and should be set to the lowest speed.