The State Government has announced they will provide up to 46.4 million free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to schools and early childhood services, ensuring the continuation of face-to-face learning while keeping students and staff as safe as possible during terms three and four.
Mainstream schools and early childhood services will be allocated three packs of five RATs for every student and staff member per term, while six packs of five RATs per term will be allocated to students and staff in specialist settings, recognising the higher risk of severe illness for medically vulnerable children, the government said.
More than 80 million RATs to schools and early childhood services throughout term one and two, while more than 105,000 air purifiers have been distributed to 1587 government schools and almost 25,000 to 620 non-government schools since term four last year.
Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said the decision is part of their commitment to minimise the disruption to learning for our students.
“We have kept our promise to ensure school doors have remained open from the beginning of term one, and free RAT’s will stay to keep students and staff safe and learning face-to-face continues,” Ms Hutchins said
“We thank teachers, parents and students for their hard work in keeping each other safe during this time, whether it’s setting up new purifiers, to getting your child vaccinated or staying home if unwell.”
Primary and secondary school students and staff, and early childhood education and care staff and children aged three to five are recommended to test at home if they experience Covid-19 symptoms or are a contact of a confirmed case.
Vaccination of children aged five to 11 and booster shots for people over 16 years old remain the best way to protect students and staff.
