ACT students went back to school this week for what promises to be the last few weeks of remote learning.
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School systems have been planning ways they can make campuses safer and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission when students gradually return.
Here are some of the ways school are adapting to the current phase of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Will students and teachers wear masks?
Masks will be mandatory for year 7 to 12 students and all school staff on campus.
They will be allowed to take it off for eating and drinking, communicating with someone who is hard of hearing, vigorous exercise, when outside alone or in an emergency situation.
Children in year 3 to 6 are encouraged to wear a mask at their parents' or carer's discretion but it will not be mandatory.
Children in preschool to year 2 should not wear a mask as it presents a choking hazard and is likely to be worn incorrectly.
Some students with disabilities may also not be able to wear a mask.
What about ventilation?
Ventilation is an important aspect to reduce the risk of airborne transmission of the virus in indoor spaces.
The Australian Health Principal Protection Committee (AHPPC) has said improved ventilation, either by opening windows and doors or through well-designed and maintained HVAC systems, should be used alongside other infection control measures.
About 400 high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters were installed to keep bushfire smoke out of schools.
Another 80 CO2 monitors for 30 schools have been purchased for the return to school, which would bring the total number of schools with the devices to 65.
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ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said the current advice from the AHPPC was that HEPA filters were not necessary if airflow through schools was adequate.
"If the health advice changes that we need to provide [HEPA filters], then we'll absolutely consider them but we've got all the systems in place right now."
What will happen if there is a case at a school?
The education minister said if a positive case of COVID-19 was at a school site, a response team would be set up to collect information for contact-tracing.
They will give the public health team site maps and rosters so the chief health officer can determine who has been exposed to the virus.
"Previously we saw that the ACT chief health officer classified the whole school as a close contact location, but part of the plan going back to school is about keeping students and different age cohorts separate as much as possible so the response might be different in those circumstances," Ms Berry said.
"We'll obviously be communicating directly with families on testing and quarantine requirements as that arises."
In previous school-based exposures, staff and students have been directed to get tested at specific times and at certain testing centres.
It is likely schools would be fully or partially shut down for cleaning, but it is hoped longer school closures will be avoided.
The ACT is also looking at how NSW and Victoria are planning to manage school outbreaks going forward.
What else is being done to make schools safe?
Schools will be looking for ways to reduce mingling between cohorts so that if there is a positive case, the number of close contacts will be kept to a minimum.
Lunch breaks could be staggered and canteen use might be changed.
Visitors to school sites will be limited while excursions, contact sports and camps will be on hold.
Physical distancing between children is not possible in most school settings but adults will be expected to keep to a room density of one person per four square metres in rooms not used by students.
Activities that generate aerosols, including singing and playing wind instruments, should be done outside.
In general parents will not be allowed onto school grounds to pick up or drop off their child, unless there is a sign in/out procedure for outside of school hours care or early childhood services.
What if parents don't want to send children to school?
Some parents are hesitant for their children to return to the classroom because they or someone in their household has a health condition which makes them more vulnerable to the virus.
Ms Berry said parents in that situation should talk to their school if they wish to keep children at home.
"The education of those young people will be different to what they're experiencing now, because we can't expect teachers to provide both remote and on campus education at the same time.
"It's just unfair of us to expect that of these teaching professionals, but what we can do is support those families to make sure that they and the young people are supported as much as possible."
Students in year 3 and above who stay home for medical reasons will have access to work via Google Classroom and preschool to year 2 will have Education Directorate lessons in English, maths and one other learning area each day of the week.
However, the Education Directorate does want the majority of students to return to school.
When will children under 12 be able to get vaccinated?
Pfizer announced positive results from its first trial in children aged five to 11. They were given a lower dose of the vaccine which was tolerated well with similar side effects to 16- to 25-year-olds.
However, the study had a relatively small cohort of 2268 participants. More results are expected by the end of this year.
A trial for the Moderna vaccine is also underway.
It will be up to the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia to approve a vaccine for younger children.
Until then, the best way to protect under 12s is for the people around them to get vaccinated to reduce the risk of contracting and passing on the virus.
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