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propertyHome/CoronavirusUpdatedPremier Peter Gutwein defends state's COVID-19 measures surrounding schools By Emily JarvieUpdated April 28 2020 - 4:46pm, first published 4:15pmBy Emily

JarvieUpdated April 28 2020 - 4:46pm, first published 4:15pmFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyPremier Peter Gutwein says decisions around schools during the COVID-19 pandemic are a matter for

Tasmania not the Federal government. Picture: file COVID-19 measures surrounding schools in Tasmania are a matter for Tasmania says the state's Premier.

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50% off EOFY SaleAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other regional websites in your areaContinue This comes after Federal

Education Minister Dan Tehan said on Sunday he hoped all schools in Australia would return to normal classroom teaching by the end of May.

Coronavirus: All the latest updates on COVID-19 for Tasmania

Premier Peter Gutwein said on Tuesday the government believed it had the right settings surrounding schools in place.

"We run the schools in Tasmania and I will make decisions that are in the best interests of our teachers, our parents and our students," Mr Gutwein said.

"We will keep them under review but how we operate [schools] in Tasmania is a matter for us."

Greens leader and education spokeswoman Cassy O'Connor said, despite Tasmania taking a more informed and safer position on school closures that what was being pushed by the Federal

government, confusion still reigned in school communities.

"Teachers, parents and students need absolute clarity about the level of risk involved in school attendance and what protocols are being developed to the mitigate these risks," Ms O'Connor

said.

"The evidence gathered from the coronavirus pandemic so far suggests schools may be a lower risk environment for transmission, but they are certainly not a no-risk environment."

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experience used to help others Labor education spokesman Josh Willie said the government needed to ensure confusion generated last term by conflicting statements about the opening of schools

would not be repeated.

"That sort of clarity is needed for as long as the COVID-19 threat remains," Mr Willie said.

But Mr Gutwein said the state's plan for schools was clear.

"Our position remains consistent with what we announced before Easter - our schools will remain open. Parents should keep their children home unless they cannot support their learning," Mr

Gutwein said.

"Our schools in the North and the South are open, but as we've said we've planned for Term 2 to be different."

Mr Gutwein said he was hopeful schools in the state's North-West would reopen next week.

As part of tough restrictions in the region following an outbreak of COVID-19 at the North West Regional Hospital, Term 2 in the North-West has been delayed by at least four days.

Mr Gutwein said the government would continue to take the advice of health authorities when considering lifting restrictions in the North-West.

He said he would be announcing an economic and social recovery plan for the state later this week.

"We are seeing a way forward through this, importantly, and the low numbers [of cases] provide evidence that we do not as yet have any widespread community transmission," Mr Gutwein said.

"As we step our way out of this we need to do so sensibly and responsibility to make sure that older age cohort we have in Tasmania is protected as well."

There have been 214 cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania of which 135 people have now recovered.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said there was a further possible case in Southern Tasmania.

"I'd like to be clear this person has not tested positive. They have a borderline test," Ms Courtney said.

She said the person would be retested, with the results to be known on Wednesday, and the person's close contacts were being contacted and asked to quarantine.

Public Health deputy director Scott McKeown said a precautionary approach was being taken towards this possible case.

Dr McKeown said this person had been in quarantine since they became unwell.

"This is the first time in Tasmania [we've had a borderline test] and we are investigating," Dr McKeown said.

744 people were tested for COVID-19 on Monday of which 77 were in the South, 48 in the North and 619 in the North-West.

"We'd really like to see this [increased level of testing] continue," Dr McKeown said.

"Our key public health message is at the moment - anywhere in the state, if you have the mildest of symptoms ... please get tested."

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ShareFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyEmily JarvieJournalistEmily Jarvie is a political journalist at The Advocate and The Examiner newspapers based in Hobart, Tasmania. Contact:

[email protected] Jarvie is a political journalist at The Advocate and The Examiner newspapers based in Hobart, Tasmania. Contact:

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