Face masks do not need to be worn in indoor spaces at schools and early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings, the ACT Government has announced.
The changes come into effect from 11:59pm on Monday, 25 April. However, arrangements in ACT public schools will stay the same as they were in Term One for at least the first two weeks of Term Two.
This means that public school staff and secondary students will continue to wear masks, visitors will need to use the Check in CBR app, and household close contacts will not be able to attend public school sites, even if they are asymptomatic, until then.
The Education Directorate will consult with unions, and other public school stakeholders, about workplace health and safety measures for the rest of the term.
Public schools will communicate directly with staff, parents and carers, as COVID safety measures are adjusted, said Katy Haire, Director-General, ACT Education.
Non-government schools will confirm the arrangements covering Term Two with their staff and families.
The changes to the Public Health (Mandatory Face Masks) Emergency Direction 2022 come as the ACT Government reviews COVID-19 requirements to ensure they remain proportionate to the risk.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said that in her view, mandates for mask wearing in school settings were no longer a proportionate response.
“Taking into account our improved understanding of the severity of the Omicron variant, our community vaccination coverage, and broader mask wearing requirements across other settings in the ACT, now is an appropriate time for this change to be implemented.”
The change also reflects requirements in place in the majority of other jurisdictions.
Dr Coleman still strongly recommended that adults and students wear masks when in small indoor settings (not including classrooms) where physical distancing is not achievable, when a public health direction requires them to do so, or when employers require them to do so as part of work health and safety arrangements.
“Mask-wearing helps to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, and staff and students are encouraged to continue wearing masks if they choose to do so, particularly if it helps them to feel more protected,” Dr Coleman said.
“Wearing a mask is a simple COVID Smart action that we all can take – a simple way to take personal responsibility for own health and protection.”
Staff and visitors to school sites will no longer be required to check in using the Check in CBR app.
Schools are asked to continue displaying their QR codes for voluntary use, and for use by event organisers hiring school events, where there is a requirement for certain events to use Check in CBR (e.g., when events are not ticketed or pre-registered).
Schools and Early Childhood Education and Care (ECECs) services will need to consider the potential implications of these changes, and review their COVID Safety measures accordingly, Ms Haire said.
Dr Coleman said these changes in restrictions were consistent with how COVID-19 was being managed across the business sector and the broader community; workplaces have been asked to take on responsibility for managing risk as part of their work health and safety obligations.
Dr Coleman encouraged the broader community to follow the COVID Smart behaviours to minimise their own risk and protect those at greatest risk in the community.
More information is available on the COVID-19 and ACT Education Directorate websites.
