In another sign of easing COVID-19 restrictions, all Queensland school students will be back in the classroom by the end of May, the premier has announced.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said schools are expected to be fully operational from May 25 if the number of new COVID-19 diagnoses remains low.
In a staged approach from Monday, kindergarten, prep, Years 1, 11 and 12 will go back to school, with a decision about further returns to be ruled on by May 15.
“I understand that it’s been a lot of stress on everybody,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“We know that there may be some hiccups along the way but this is a measured and responsible plan that we’re taking to the Queensland community.”
Any rise in cases between now and then would see plans change.
“Hopefully we’ll have all of our schools back and hopefully it will be without incident,” she said.
“If there is an outbreak or if there’s community transmission then our plans may change, I have to be honest about that.”
Three more people were diagnosed with the virus overnight after recently returning from overseas.
The nation’s chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy has warned it will be a slow road back to reality, with health authorities wary of a second wave of infections.
“The lessons we have learnt from overseas is that if you go too quickly and open up things too quickly, you can get a second wave,” Professor Murphy told reporters.
Meanwhile, school returns across the states and territories remains a hot topic for state premiers and education ministers.
In Victoria, Premier Daniel Andrews remains committed to remote learning for students for the remainder of term two which finishes on June 26.
On Sunday, the government confirmed a teacher at Meadow Glen primary school in Epping had coronavirus and the school will be shut from Monday to Wednesday.
The music teacher’s infection was reported after federal education Minister Dan Tehan accused Mr Andrews of failing in his leadership by keeping schools shut.
Mr Tehan later issued a statement withdrawing the remarks, saying he had overstepped the mark.
In South Australia, which recorded its eleventh consecutive day of no new cases on Sunday, prompted the state to reopen playgrounds and skate parks with 63 per cent of students back at school.
NSW students will attend school one day a week starting from May 11 while Western Australia hopes all students will return to classes by May 11.
-with AAP
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