Classes continue as normal as COVID hits two Geraldton schools

Geraldton schools have been hit with COVID as the virus continues to spread across the Mid West and stricter rules imposed to lessen any community outbreak. The Education Department on Tuesday confirmed Mount Tarcoola Primary School and Champion Bay Senior High School had informed parents one positive case had been identified at each school. In an urgent message sent to parents and guardians, Champion Bay Senior High School said a student in Year 8 had returned a positive test. “They attended school while possibly infectious between Thursday February 24 and (Friday) February 25,” the message read. “If students and staff are identified as close contacts of the case, they will be contacted directly by the school. “The school remains open. If your child is not identified as a close contact, your child is not required to quarantine and should attend school.” Mount Tarcoola Primary School on Monday told families a Year 2 student had COVID, with all of the child’s classmates and teachers directed to get tested and isolate. The school remains open, but families have been asked to monitor for symptoms and keep children home if they become unwell. It is not clear if any close contacts from either case have been identified. Premier Mark McGowan on Monday announced that Level 2 measures would be introduced statewide on Thursday — the same day WA’s hard border comes down. Level 2 measures include the indoor mask mandate expanded to include children from Year 3, the 2sqm rule remains for hospitality, entertainment and fitness venues but with a 150-person cap, a 10-person household limit, 50 per cent capacity for cinemas and theatres and 50-person limit for private outdoor gatherings. The Premier said the plan was for these tougher rules to remain in place for four weeks. The school outbreaks in Geraldton come in the wake of seven new COVID cases being recorded in the Mid West on Monday, adding to the four cases identified last week. The exact location of each case is unknown, and there is growing pressure for WA Health to release more information about regional COVID exposure. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson on Monday said the department would “look into” providing a more extensive breakdown of COVID cases. “We haven’t had much regional spread at all, but as we get further into case studies we will provide that region by region,” she said. Shire of Yalgoo president Greg Payne said his son returned a positive test after returning home from spending two days in Geraldton last week. He promptly reported the two positive rapid antigen test results to WA Health, who requested Mr Payne’s son and close contacts undergo PCR testing. But the Yalgoo nursing post was closed due to staffing shortages last Monday, forcing the family to use the testing facilities of a local mine site. WA Country Health Service Midwest regional director Rachele Ferrari said confirmed WACHS was unable to backfill the nursing position after the “highly valued, local nurse required unplanned leave.” Mount Magnet publican Martin Walsh said the Grand Hotel had been on alert after a skimpy barmaid returned a positive COVID test. The woman had travelled to the Mid West town from Perth by bus last Monday, and had worked at the pub that night and on Tuesday. She had experienced no symptoms while at work, but on Wednesday conducted a PCR test and self-isolated when she learned she was a close contact of a Perth case. Mr Walsh said others who worked the same nights as the barmaid had also been undergoing regular COVID tests. Shire of Mount Magnet president Jorgen Jensen praised the actions of pub staff and others potentially exposed to the virus. Only one exposure site in Mount Magnet has been identified — the Grand Hotel on February 22 between 5pm and 11pm — but Mr Jensen said it would be naive to think the town could remain immune to community transmission. “We have seen the numbers in Perth, I don’t think it is realistic for any regional community to think (COVID) is not going to hit them,” he said. Last month, a parent of a student at Northampton’s St Mary’s School tested positive. There are currently seven COVID exposure sites in the Mid West, with five of those in the Geraldton area.