A student who should have been in isolation was sent to school and now hundreds of schoolchildren are under threat of being exposed to coronavirus.
The child, who is in year 1, is a student at Oran Park Public School in Sydney’s south-west and 7 News reports that they recently travelled to mainland China.
As soon as teachers were made aware of the trip, the child was sent home.
Hopefully Not Too Late?
School Principal, Donna Shevlin, has sent a letter to parents explaining:
“A student who recently returned from China has attended school within the medical advice provided by the NSW Health of 14 days self-isolation for people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus,”
“Once aware of this situation, the school immediately excluded the student from school for 14 days, with a return date of 10th February.”
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard previously requested that parents keep kids at home if they had travelled to China within the last fortnight.
This measure was voluntary and evidently not all parents felt it was necessary to take the warning on board.
However, there is at present no indication that the student is suffering from coronavirus.
A Risk
But we do know that the virus is known to have a slow incubation period and it could take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear after being exposed to coronavirus.
The student’s teacher is currently at work and the principal is assuring parents that they are following strict hygiene protocol.
There are 1,525 students enrolled at Oran Park Public School.
Latest Numbers
The news comes as a fifth case of the deadly coronavirus has been confirmed in Queensland, bringing the nation’s total to 15.
More than 28000 people have infected globally and 563 people have died.
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