As experts predict a spike in COVID-19 cases following students returning to classrooms, a new survey has forecast large numbers of infections could go undetected.
The survey found nearly one in three parents in NSW and Victoria don’t plan to follow state government guidelines requiring twice weekly rapid antigen tests of school students.
While 70 per cent of parents surveyed by consultancy firm Nature said they would follow the guidelines, 15 per cent said they would only use the rapid tests if their child had symptoms.
The survey also revealed 13 per cent of parents said testing would only be done once a week or less while two per cent said they would never test their children.
Not every parents will be following the twice-a-week RAT tests rules, according to a new survey from Nature consultancy
Nearly 40 per cent of respondents said rapid tests provided by the government for returning to school would be saved for other occasions, rather than for school surveillance.
Nature’s managing partner Chris Cook said the findings raised questions about the effectiveness of the rapid testing scheme.
‘If a third of people are not going to follow the policy correctly, it raises the question of whether it’s worth doing it at all,’ he said.
‘By not having tests done at schools or having parents show proof of testing, it opens the door to all manner of stockpiling and selling of a commodity.’
The latest vaccination figures have shown more than 40 per cent of five to 11-year-olds have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the cohort was the fastest vaccinated age group in the country.
‘Very significantly, some schools and some school districts are holding school-based vaccination programs and if your child hasn’t been vaccinated, please allow them to be vaccinated,’ he told reporters on Monday.
One of thousands of young families to diligently follow the RAT test rules: Mum Kelly and her children Ethan and twins Mayer and Pippa administer a test before returning to school
Deputy chief medical officer Michael Kidd said while states and territories would undergo rapid testing of students as schools return, case numbers would most likely rise following a recent plateau of Omicron infections.
‘With schools returning and many children doing regular rapid antigen tests, we do expect to see a rise in the number of reported cases,’ he said.
‘This is because although infection with the Omicron variant can lead to moderate or severe illness in some people, in most people it causes mild symptoms or no symptoms at all – especially in children.’
Acting federal education minister Stuart Robert said modelling indicated there would be an increase in transmission, but didn’t reveal what the expected increase would be.
‘The key thing is it’s safe for kids to go back to school. We have to get back to normal,’ he told Sky News.
