Coronavirus restrictions set to wreak havoc on ACT school year

While the ACT government isn't planning to preemptively close public schools at this stage, education minister Yvette Berry is asking parents and students to be prepared for any advice to potentially change as the global health emergency escalates.

Ms Berry's message came as it emerged Telopea Park School was linked to the second confirmed case of COVID-19 in the ACT.

The individual was not a student or staff member, but did visit Telopea's grounds while infectious, according to an email from the school's principal.

Acting on the federal government's latest advice on mass gatherings and "social distancing", the territory cancelled school assemblies, sporting events, parent/teacher nights and open days from Monday morning.

Local and interstate excursions have been cancelled.

"While we realise there will be some disruption as a result of this precautionary decision, we believe it is the best course of action to ensure the safety of not only our school communities, but the Canberra community as a whole," the ACT Education Directorate said on Monday morning.

At this stage, the ACT government is only preparing to temporarily close a school if a student or staff member contracts coronavirus. Those who came into "close contact" with the case would be required to self isolate for 14 days under those circumstances.

Ms Berry warned that if the government started preemptively shutting schools down, they wouldn't reopen for months.

"Coronavirus is not going away in a couple of week's time, the virus is going to be with us for many months. It is about minimising exposure and flattening the curve and the effect of the virus on our community," she said.

"If we were to close schools where, in the ACT, we only have two confirmed cases and no case of person-to-person transmission, we would be closing schools before the curve had increased and so schools would need to be closed for a longer period of time.

"In addition to that, we have children whose parents are health care workers or aged-care workers. If they are staying home [to care for their child] it will put more pressure on the essential health services that we need."

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Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, as well as various state chief health officers, made similar arguments against mass school closures on Monday.

Ms Berry acknowledged the situation was rapidly changing, stressing the ACT government would be ready to respond if and when new advice was issued.

She urged parents to regularly check the directorate's website for the latest advice and updates.

ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Association president Kirsty McGovern-Hooley said the "social distancing" protocols imposed on Monday were sensible.

Ms McGovern-Hooley agreed mass school closures should be avoided, saying they could cause "incredible disruption".

"Parents would have to be at home and it could prevent them from earning money," she said.

"We also have to take into account the kids' learning and trying to keep everything as normal as possible."

Australian Education Union ACT branch secretary Glenn Fowler said the move to ban assemblies and excursions seemed "entirely reasonable", adding teachers would follow the expert medical advice.

Mr Fowler said the union was also focused on ensuring all teachers, including relief teachers, were not financially disadvantaged if schools had to be shut.

In an email on Monday morning, Canberra Grammar confirmed that in addition to cancelling assemblies and excursions, and withdrawing from sporting competitions, the school would not be staging its Anzac Day service or school fete scheduled for later in Term 1.

"Whatever comes, the times ahead may be difficult for us all in schools, workplaces and homes," Canberra Grammar head of school Justin Garrick said in the email.

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