Schools across the city remain open as the state government continues to monitor the threat of coronavirus.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The state's education department introduced measures to limit the impact of the virus to all schools beginning on Monday, with school assemblies, excursions and events earmarked for cancellation.
The measures has seen schools across the city shutter planned events during the current school term, with Murrumbidgee Regional High School cancelling their Harmony Day celebrations and the school's athletics carnival.
Parent-teacher evenings, fundraising events for the Pasifika Program and an information evening for prospective parents have also been cancelled due to the measures implemented.
A STEM day at Binya Public School planned for Wednesday which would have seen Yoogali Public School attend has been cancelled, with Yoogali Public School also opting to hold their Easter Hat Parade behind closed doors, while Hanwood Public School has canned parent-teacher interviews.
The Department of Education's secretary Mark Scott said the measures are precautionary and designed to reduce exposure via non-essential gatherings.
"Schools have been a focus of the community and the government as the impacts of coronavirus have developed globally," Mr Scott said.
"The community expects schools to be as safe as possible. We are implementing these measures to provide peace of mind for students, parents and staff.
"Local inter-school sport and other activities, can proceed but we ask organisers to ensure that as far as possible, reasonable precautions are taken.
"I trust our principals and staff to show leadership during this time."
READ MORE
The department is preparing for closures if necessary through the scaling up of technology, additional training of staff and preparation of offsite lessons.
Speaking exclusively to The Area News on Monday, NSW Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the department was keeping a close eye on the situation.
"At this point we are closely following the advice from (NSW) Health, which is that schools should remain open ... that's a view that has come about not just from NSW Health, but all of the chief health officers right around the state and federally," she said.
"There's been an agreement that it is in the best interest of the community.
"We have the practice in NSW if there is a positive case (of COVID-19) that affects the school community that we do close that school for at least a day to enable health to do contract tracing for any close contact of the infected person, to clean the school."
Ms Mitchell said the situation is "ever-evolving" and is being monitored on a daily basis as to the best decisions for schools.
"I'm speaking with [NSW health minister] Brad Hazzard multiple times a day," Ms Mitchell said.
"If things need to change they will, but at this point schools are operating and open for business as usual."
As of March 16, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the Murrumbidgee.