The Tasmanian government will provide parents with a back-to-school COVID-19 pack, including rapid antigen tests, to help prepare for the start of term one on February 9.
The plan will stay in place for the first five weeks of the ten-week term but Premier Peter Gutwein said some elements could stay for the whole year.
"I can understand parents feeling anxious," he said.
"We want to make sure that the plans we have in place, like masks and testing, are copied and mirrored in our schools to make sure our schools have a sufficient level of resources so they can support students if they need it."
Who gets the rapid antigen tests and masks ?
The COVID-19 pack will include two rapid antigen tests per child, for use if a child becomes unwell or symptomatic.
"Students should only test if symptomatic and they should stay home if the result is positive," Mr Gutwein said. "There is no need for daily testing."
High school students will have to wear surgical masks — but primary school children won't.
High schools will have a supply on hand if students do not have their own.
Mr Gutwein said the government had 1.6 million masks and 500,000 rapid antigen tests in stock, with another 800,000 RATs expected to arrive in the next week.
It is anticipated 1.5 million RATs will be needed over the five weeks. A total of 7.5m have been ordered.
The school packs will also be available to students in the independent and Catholic education systems.
How are schools being modified ?
Windows are being modified across Tasmanian classrooms to make sure they open and classrooms are well-ventilated.
For classrooms not on the periphery, 4,500 air purifiers are being installed.
The Premier said outdoor spaces were being optimised where possible to allow outdoor learning and school breaks will be staggered so students are not all gathering outside at the same time.
What happens if there's a positive case in a classroom?
The Deputy Director of Public Health Scott McKeown said the definition of close contact would be managed differently in the school setting than in the home.
If there is a single case in a classroom, parents and carers will be told to monitor for symptoms in their child.
"They will be able to continue school," he said.
"They won't be defined as close contacts because the level of exposure is different."
If there are five or more cases in a classroom within seven days, an outbreak management team will be put in place.
Any child who is a close contact of a household case will have to follow existing quarantine guidelines and stay home for at least seven days, with testing on day one and six.
"Five or more cases is an outbreak and we'll work with that school to manage that situation," Dr McKeown said.
"In most cases the students in that group will still be able to go to school but we'll do intensive testing to see if there are any further cases.
"We'd work with the Department of Education and that school to assess risk and the best way to ensure children are kept safe and make sure the outbreak is managed, and make sure the student can continue to go to school because that is the best place for them."
What happens if teachers get sick ?
The Premier said the Department of Education was making sure there was a pool of teachers available if a lot had to take time off because of COVID-19.
There are currently 1,700 relief teachers on the register and 400 recently-retired staff who could be re-employed if teacher shortages became an issue.
Like healthcare and aged care workers, they would be eligible for exemption from close contact isolation rules if they were not symptomatic.
"They will be able to return to school, even if they are a close contact, but they will have to be rapid antigen tested on a daily basis," Mr Gutwein said.
What if my child is medically compromised?
The Premier said schools would contact parents of medically compromised students individually.
"Students with a disability or who are medically vulnerable will continue to be supported on an individual basis on the basis of their medical action plan, " he said.
"Each school will reach out to parents and carers … prior to school returning to discuss their child's individual plan."
What if my child gets COVID and I need to care for them?
Mr Gutwein reminded parents and carers they could be eligible for a pandemic grant of $750 if they did not have any relevant leave entitlements and needed to care for a child who had to stay home from school with COVID-19.
If they needed to get tested or vaccinated, they could be eligible for a $250 payment.
More information on the current measures can be found on the Tasmanian government's coronavirus website.
