COVID-19 daily wrap: Students make full return on Monday

14/05/2020 - 15:37

All school students in Western Australia are required to return to the classroom on Monday, with some exceptions. The state reported one new coronavirus infection overnight. There were 13 new COVID-19 cases reported nationally.

COVID-19 daily wrap: Students make full return on Monday

Sue Ellery says there are serious adverse affects on students who do not attend school. Photo: Attila Csaszar

Students at Western Australia’s public, Catholic and independent schools are required to return to the classroom this coming Monday, with exceptions for medically vulnerable students or those with family members who have chronic health issues.
Premier Mark McGowan said the decision had the support of all stakeholders in the education sector and health experts. Students with exceptions will be assessed while they work from home.
“I expect this decision will be welcome news for families across the state,” Mr McGowan said. “This is a great day for WA students and the wider WA community. Once again, WA is leading the way when it comes to easing of COVID-19 restrictions and getting our kids back to school.”
The announcement comes as WA experienced its highest attendance across public schools during the pandemic, recording an average 85.6 per cent attendance yesterday.
“We can take comfort from these numbers as we move to the next stage of our plan from Term 2,” Mr McGowan said.
Education Minister Sue Ellery said the health advice that schools were ‘low risk’ environments had not changed. She said there were serious adverse impacts on students who do not attend school.
“The review of schooling arrangements was based on health advice, educational research and feedback from education stakeholders who were consulted with this week,” Ms Ellery said. “All students except those with medical advice that they should learn at home will be expected to physically attend school from Monday.”
The Department of Health announced one new coronavirus infection overnight, bringing the state’s total to 554.
The new case is a female in her 30s who is a close contact of a confirmed case and is currently self-isolating.
There are seven active COVID-19 cases in the state, including one in regional WA in the Goldfields. All seven cases are Western Australians.
There have been 538 recoveries from the virus in WA. There is now only one COVID-19 patient in a Perth metropolitan hospital, currently in intensive care.
Across Australia, there are 51 COVID-19 patients in hospital, including 18 in intensive care and 13 patients on ventilators.
There have been 13 new coronavirus infections in Australia since 3pm yesterday.

Related Data & Insights

State Government Departments

State Government Departments

Rank Company #

1^st Department of Health 57,501

2^nd Department of Education 43,446

3^rd WA Police Force 9,481

5^th Department of Justice 7,207

6^th Department of Communities 6,590

48 state government departments ranked by total staff in WA
View Full List

Rank	Company	#
1^st	Department of Health	57,501
2^nd	Department of Education	43,446
3^rd	WA Police Force	9,481
5^th	Department of Justice	7,207
6^th	Department of Communities	6,590