Schools might randomly take a look at asymptomatic academics, college students and employees for Covid-19 below an concept put ahead by the nation’s chief training union.
In the Australian Education Union’s submission final month for the parliamentary inquiry into lengthy Covid, the union has known as on the federal government to enhance mitigation measures in public faculties which they are saying are presently “not adequate”.
They say the committee ought to advocate {that a} “regular asymptomatic testing program” be reinstated in all instructional settings, and mandate the reporting of outcomes.
“And that mandated isolation from the school or other education setting is reintroduced for students or school staff who are infected with Covid,” the union stated.
“Current government approaches to limiting Covid infection, repeat infection and long Covid demonstrates a lack of concern for the health and wellbeing of students, teachers and the broader school community.”
Former training minister Stuart Robert stated the concept was “nuts”.
“It is ridiculous. It is a complete brain fade by the education union,” he instructed the Nine Network.
“Covid is now endemic, which means we treat it like any other endemic disease – that is the medical advice.
“But do we do random testing for chickenpox, measles, mumps or rubella? Do we do it for the flu and find another disease that comes along and shove things up young kid’s noses because they have no choice.
“This is nuts. Let’s be sensible.”
The guidelines relating to colleges and Covid-19 lie inside the remit of state and territory training ministers.
