By Laura Michell
A Craigieburn primary school has been closed after a pupil tested positive for COVID-19.
A prep pupil at Newbury Primary School tested positive for coronavirus after developing symptoms over the weekend.
Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton said the pupil had been at school last week with no symptoms.
The pupil was tested on Wednesday and the Department of Health and Human Services was notified of the positive result yesterday, he said.
Professor Sutton said the department would notify close contacts of the pupil and they would be required to quarantine for the next two weeks.
He said Newbury Primary School was not the only school to record a positive COVID-19 case, with a case identified at Keilor Downs Secondary College last week. A student from St Albans Secondary College also tested positive for the virus after taking part in a class with the infected Keilor Downs student.
However, he said the cases did not mean there was a risk of students catching the virus at school.
“There is certainly no evidence there is ongoing transmission within the school setting.”
Professor Sutton said the recent cases suggested the area from Keilor Downs to Fawkner and out to Craigieburn was a current “hot spot” for community transmission of the virus.
“These areas of Melbourne appear to be hot spots at the moment, so pole from the inner west to inner north of metropolitan Melbourne really need to consider if they have symptoms to get tested,” he said.
In a message to parents, seen by Star Weekly, Newbury Primary School said the school would be closed from today. The school said the closure would be for 24 hours initially.
“The closure will allow time for the school and [the Department of Health and Human Services] to work through a contact and containment strategy,” the message to parents said.
“This includes identifying and notifying any person who has been in close recent contact with the affected student who has tested positive to coronavirus.
“Affected students, their families and school staff will be notified by DHHS over the next 24 hours and supported to ensure they understand what actions to take.
“All students and teachers currently learning and working onsite are advised to remain at home while contact tracing occurs. They must limit movements to home-based activities and not attend public places.
“The school will update all families once the contact tracing has been completed and a decision about reopening the school facilities for students is made.”
The school’s closure comes just days before the return of grade 3 to 6 pupils and students in years 7 to 10 to classrooms across the state.
Schools welcomed back pupils in prep, grade 1 and grade 2, as well as years 11 and 12 on May 26.
