One of the important decisions made overnight in regards to students in lockdown is that the start of the HSC exams will be delayed until November 9 and there will be mandatory vaccination for all school staff from November 8.
After her announcement that New South Wales had 143,000 people get vaccinated in the last 24 hour reporting period, that there were 882 cases of community transmission and that two people lost their lives overnight, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian handed over today’s press conference to NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell MLC for an update on what is and will be happening with the return to school and the 2021 HSC.
A clear roadmap
Ms Mitchell said she is really pleased that today there is a clear roadmap to going back to the classroom. ‘We know that the best teaching and learning happens in the classroom, but we also know it’s really important for the social and emotional well being of our students to be with their friends and to be back with their teachers.
‘We will be starting to say [Sydney] students can return to the classroom from the 25 October. Any communities that come out of stay at home orders prior to that date, will of course see students return to school – if we’re able to bring students back sooner in any parts of the regions of course we will do that.
‘It’s particularly important to give HSC students more time with their teachers face to face before their exams begin. HSC exams will be going ahead they will be starting on the 9 of November and NESA will be providing an updated exam timetable in September for students so they can have that clarity.
Vaccination mandatory for teachers
‘From the eighth of November all year groups will be back in the classroom, that is also the date when mandatory vaccinations will come into effect for our school staff.
‘We will also have mask-wearing mandatory for all of our stuff on our school sites, mandatory for our high school students, and will be strongly recommending that our primary school students also wear masks, and that’s in line with the latest health advice.
‘We strongly encourage anyone who’s eligible for a vaccine. And to take up that opportunity at the moment, anyone over the age of 16 can get access to a vaccine I’m really pleased that the federal government have announced that they’re extending that to 12-year-olds – anything we can do to protect our school communities is really important.
‘We won’t be mandating for our students, but we will be strongly encouraging, anybody who is eligible to get vaccinated, and that now of course includes anyone aged 12 and up.’
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
Let’s not forget that Covid-19 is still a big issue in our community with 31,935 cases reported across Australia in the last week – an average of 4,562 cases per day. The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing. Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September. SW Police are urging festival-goers at this weekend’s music festival to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, whilst also being aware of COVID-Safety measures. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 4pm yesterday, Sunday May 22, there were 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU. The AEC says that voters who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 will be able to phone in their vote in the federal election. The Northern NSW Local Health District says that to 4pm yesterday, 15 May, 384 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the District, including 82 positive PCR tests and 302 positive rapid antigen tests. Volunteering Australia says volleys are the backbone of the country in times of crisis and emergency. Today there are 41 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with none of these in ICU. The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) reports that there are 37 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU.
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These are telling words:
” … and there will be mandatory vaccination for all school staff from November 8.”
When there are mandatory vaccinations all over Australia where staff deal with the public, Aged Care homes and in all Aged Care facilities, in Hospitals and clinics and dental surgeries, mandatory vaccinations is a norm and accepted by all people in those places.
That brings us to mandatory vaccination for all Australians. So far the rollout has been a complete mess and has driven a hole into business, the workforce and the economy and family life. There are smashed businesses, unemployment, broken relationships, increased hospitalisations and deaths a mile long.
There should be mandatory vaccination for all Australians and the rollout would have been finished and completed by last month.
Thank you for your opinion Emily Stewart. But I disagree. I believe every person has a right to decide what they put in to their body. You don’t have to agree with me and I’m not offended if you don’t. But don’t push your opinion on me and the rest of my country.