The Victorian government has signalled it could scrap mask mandates for primary school students as soon as the start of Term 2.
A government statement revealed Tuesday if Covid-19 conditions continued as expected and case numbers remained steady, mask mandates would be dropped.
“As we reach the Omicron BA.2 peak and case numbers begin to plateau, the Minister for Health will reconsider all health orders,” the statement said.
“If epidemiological conditions are as forecast, we expect schoolchildren will not have to wear masks when they return for Term 2.”
Students in Grades 3 to 6 at primary schools in Victoria are currently required to wear masks in indoor spaces, while high school students are not.
A number of health experts have put increasing pressure on the government to change the rules which they say lack evidence-based backing.
Director of the Child and Adolescent Health PhD Program at University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Fiona Russell, welcomed the change on Tuesday.
“It is very good news for primary school age children that the mask mandate will be lifted for this age group,” she told the Herald Sun.
“This now aligns with face mask guidelines for all other age groups.”
There were 10,293 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Victoria on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 62,173.
Also on Tuesday, the Victorian government announced rules for cruise passengers, with a Commonweaxjmtzywlth ban on cruise ships set to end this month.
Being “susceptible to large outbreaks”, the rules apply specifically to the cruise industry, which has struggled severely during Covid.
All passengers over 12 will have had to have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to board a cruise ship in Victoria, and all crew members must be “up to date” with three doses.
“Unvaccinated children under 12 or anyone with a valid medical exemption can travel, but they must not make up more than five per cent of the ship’s passengers,” the statement said.
“Passengers must obtain a negative Covid-19 test before embarking, and if boarding with symptoms, they must have another negative PCR test that day. Crew will test every 14 days, or when symptomatic.”
The government also confirmed vaccination requirements won’t apply to venues that are operating as a polling place for the upcoming federal election, as was earlier signalled by the Australian Electoral Commision.
Speaking to reporters, Premier Daniel Andrews signalled vaccination and close contact rules could be scrapped across the whole state once the current Omicron outbreak peaks.
“To have less rules while the case numbers are going up? That’s probably not a smart thing to do,” Mr Andrews said.
“But once they start to come off, which we think will be quite soon, we will have those options available to us.”
