Coronavirus crisis: SA schools to remain open
“Send your children to school”
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has said that schools will remain open.
“Send your children to school. If we do this we will slow the spread of the disease,” Marshall told radio 5AA on Monday.
“But having said that, there are some parents who would like to have their children out of school.”
The news comes as a shock as VIC and ACT have announced plans to close their schools this week.
At this stage there are no plans to close NSW schools, however Premier Gladys Berejiklian says schools in the state will remain open, but has encouraged parents to keep their children at home.
The Queensland Teachers Union has called on the state government to close schools from Wednesday.
Kevin Bates, Queensland Teachers Union president says schools do not have enough supplies to stay open.
Speaking on ABC radio Bates said: "We're seeing reports all of the time that schools are really struggling to keep up supplies
"They are trying ... (but) suppliers are simply not coping with the demand.
"That's one of the things that contributes to this decision today, to call for schools to be closed to students from Wednesday."
Basic supplies that are in short supply includes soap, causing concern that lack of hygiene could be threat to students health.
Reportedly school teachers have been forced to buy supplies including hand sanitiser and liquid soap. Hygiene products are in short supply across the nation, shopping restrictions are in place at major supermarkets.
QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was acting on best medical advise and that was to keep the schools open.
She added that parents had the choice whether to send their kids to schools or not.
Michelle Connolly has worked as a photo director, social media manager and photo editor at some of Australia's biggest media companies, including New Idea. She is now editor of Practical Parenting and loving mum-of-two.
