STUDENTS at public schools in Victoria are no longer required to wear masks, under changes that took effect on Thursday.
The revised guidelines for schools, which follow the expiry of the State Government’s pandemic declaration at midnight on Wednesday, also scrap physical distancing and vaccination rules for staff and school visitors, including at specialist schools.
This paves the way for unvaccinated teachers to return to the classroom, although the guidelines “strongly recommend” staff and students keep up to date with their COVID-19 jabs.
“Vaccinations are the best way to protect individuals, families and school communities from the severe effects of COVID-19 and reduce the spread of the virus,” the Department of Education and Training guidelines said.
Victorians are no longer required to isolate after testing positive to COVID-19, but it is recommended positive cases isolate for five days.
Students or their parents should report a positive rapid test to their school, but schools will not be required to advise their community of positive cases.
“Schools must continue to take the important steps of ensuring air purifiers are in use, external ventilation is maximised, good personal hygiene is encouraged and face masks continue to be made available for staff, students and visitors who wish to wear them,” the new guidelines said.
“The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home.
“Additionally, the Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for at least seven days after a positive test when they need to leave home.”
Masks were previously recommended indoors at schools or outside where social distancing was not possible, but schools were not required to enforce mask wearing.
The updated guidelines also advised schools to use up their supplies of rapid antigen tests before the end of Term 4, or send them home with students, because RATS left in non-airconditioned buildings over summer would likely perish and be useless when school returns next year.
