Schools to stay open but Deakin to pause on-campus activity

THE state government has not yet decided to close public schools in response to the coronavirus pandemic, with the Victorian Chief Health Officer saying such a move could do more harm than good.

The state government declared a state of emergency on Monday, with schools, TAFEs and universities allowed to remain open for now but asked to restrict mass gatherings such as assemblies and lectures of more than 500 people.

Some private schools in Melbourne have closed due to suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 among students or staff.

In a statement issued on Monday this week, Dr Brett Sutton said pre-emptive school closures were “not likely to be proportionate or effective as a public health intervention to prevent community transmission of COVID-19 at this time”.

He said the World Health Organisation’s study of coronavirus in China noted the primary role of household transmission and observed that children tended to be infected from adults.

“Previous work suggests that the potential reduction in community transmission from pre-emptive school closures may be offset by the care arrangements that are in place for children who are not at school.

“There is a particular risk associated with the fact that children may require care from vulnerable grandparents or may continue to associate (and transmit infection) outside of school settings.

“Broadly, the health advice on school closures from previous respiratory epidemics shows the health costs are often underestimated and the benefits are overestimated.”

Dr Sutton said if schools were to be closed early, “prolonged closure is required and it would be unclear when they could be re-opened”.

“If there were still a large pool of susceptible students when schools are re-opened, there would be likely to be re-emergence of transmission in the community.

“School closures may still be considered late in the outbreak in anticipation of a peak in infection rates, for a shorter period of time. Short-term reactive school closures may also be warranted to allow cleaning and contact tracing to occur.”

Deakin University announced it would pause all on-campus teaching, including classes (lectures), seminars and pracs from yesterday (Wednesday, March 18) until March 27.