Penrith-area school returns to at-home learning after sudden Covid spike

A Western Sydney school will require some pupils to return to at-home learning this week in the hopes of controlling a significant spike in Covid cases among staff and students.

Braddock Public School, in Cranebrook, informed parents on Tuesday that 'a portion of the school will be reverting to learning from home' after a rapid increase in case numbers.

The school will also reinstate mask wearing for staff and all adult visitors, while also recommending mask-wearing for students who continue to attend classes in-person until Wednesday next week. Assemblies and other indoor gatherings have also been postponed in the hopes of slowing the number of new cases.

"The best place for our students to learn is in the classroom but the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is the department's priority," the Department of Education said in a release sent to parents on Tuesday.

"We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure a safe learning environment for all our students and staff." 

A parent of a student at the school confirmed that the primary cause of the return to at-home learning was that too many teachers are currently afflicted and the school can't provide adequate supervision - but the numbers are also rife among students, with 12 positive cases in one of the classes in question.

The news comes two days after the World Health Organisation declared the Covid World Health emergency officially over.

In New South Wales, case numbers are steadily rising again as colder weather sets in and Influenza also makes its annual return - but there are concerns over the future accuracy of case numbers after the new state government confirmed that PCR testing centres around the state would be gradually shut down throughout May. NSW Residents, particularly those over the age of 65, are being advised to obtain a Covid booster show and flu vaccination.

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