VICTORIAN teachers and childcare workers will have to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before they return to work.<\/p>\n
Education Minister James Merlino announced all staff at schools and childcare services will need to have their first jab by October 18 or have a booking within a week of that date.<\/p>\n
They will need to be fully vaccinated by November 29.<\/p>\n
All government school staff will be entitled to half a day of paid time off to get vaccinated.<\/p>\n
“Anyone who works on-site at schools or early childhood settings, they will not be able to work on site if they are not vaccinated,” Mr Merlino said.<\/p>\n
He said a survey of 33,000 teachers found 75 per cent were already fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n
The announcement comes as the state recorded 628 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and three deaths.<\/p>\n
The cases include four in Mitchell Shire, two in Geelong and two in Moorabool.<\/p>\n
Over 250 people are in hospital, of which 58 are in intensive care including 37 on a ventilator.<\/p>\n
Year 12 students will be the first to return to face-to-face learning on October 5, with a staggered return of other years starting with prep to year 2 on October 18.<\/p>\n
The remaining year levels will be able to return on October 26 but only year 7 and year 11s will be able to attend five days a week.<\/p>\n
The government will spend $190 million to make sure schools are properly ventilated by the start of term four, including the rollout of 51,000 ventilators.<\/p>\n
Some $60 million will be spent on installing shade sails at 2149 schools to create more outdoor learning spaces.<\/p>\n
A Ventilation Technical Advisory Panel will be established to undertake further risk assessments of other environments including early childhood settings and youth justice facilities.<\/p>\n
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