Students Returning from Overseas and Victoria
You may have heard recent media reports that national authorities have moved to a new “protect” response phase to manage the outbreak of H1N1 Influenza 09 (also known as Human Swine Influenza) in Australia.
Queensland’s Deputy Premier and Health Minister Paul Lucas said Queensland would move to the new protect phase from next Monday (June 22) but would keep its policy of school exclusions and school closures in place until the end of term next Friday (June 26).
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the extra week of possible school closures followed by school holidays provided a circuit breaker, further lessening the spread and the potential impacts to the Queensland community.
Dr Young has advised that Queensland’s efforts to restrict the spread of H1N1 Influenza 09 have been very effective and will continue until the end of Term 2 on 26 June.
It means that until Friday 26 June our school will:
- Continue to be prepared to act quickly to close the school to students if advised to do so by Queensland Health.
- Continue the current guidelines for seven-day time-out for any students returning to Queensland from areas of concern, including Victoria.
Because the seven-day time-out guidelines for students end on 26 June, there will be no restrictions on students entering Queensland from areas of concern including Mexico, the United States of America, Canada, Panama, Japan, Chile and Argentina or students that are returning from Victoria after that date.
For further information please contact the school or visit the Education Queensland website at www.education.qld.gov.au
For further information about H1N1 Influenza 09 (Human Swine Influenza) contact 13 HEALTH or visit www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu
Education Queensland is working closely with Queensland Health and will continue to be guided by the advice provided by their medical experts in relation to any situations where action by schools would benefit the school and broader community.
