HUNTER teachers are calling for the government to extend the provision of free rapid antigen tests to staff and students as COVID-19 continues to spread in schools.
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The state government distributed around 8.2 million RAT kits last month to more than 3000 schools and early childhood centres, recommending students be tested twice a week for the first four weeks of term.
Independent Education Union Australia NSW/ACT assistant secretary Pam Smith said the IEU was calling for the government to extend free testing for a further six weeks.
Victoria has extended free testing by six weeks and the ACT by four weeks.
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She said many students were still not fully vaccinated.
"There's a lot of COVID out there, fortunately the rapid antigen testing is often picking up students and staff who are asymptomatic and if they hadn't tested they could have been in the school potentially spreading the virus," Ms Smith said.
"There's an element of 'Let's be safe about this' and the rapid antigen testing seems to be...a way of gate keeping."
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced on Thursday the loosening of some COVID-19 restrictions, including that from February 25 masks will be mandated only in limited settings.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said it was "reviewing its school settings, including the RAT surveillance program" and working closely with NSW Health.
"It's unclear what government policy is at this stage in regards to masks in schools and how [Thursday's] announcement relates specifically to schools," Ms Smith said.
NSW Teachers Federation regional organiser Jack Galvin Waight said it was still necessary to mitigate risks. "While ever there are significant cases and transmission in the community, we need appropriate risk mitigation strategies," Mr Galvin Waight said.
"This includes masks, ventilation, air purifiers and surveillance tests. The rapid antigen testing should remain, as they are an important first line of defence and are picking up cases and reducing transmission.
"Now is not the time to relax risk mitigation strategies in schools.
"How many other jobs require you to be on a worksite with literally hundreds of people, in some instances up to 2000, stuck in restricted, often poorly ventilated spaces with up to 30 people?"
He said the federation would continue to monitor the effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies "with a view to seeking urgent adjustments, should they be necessary".
"Our students and teachers deserve the greatest amount of protection possible."
NSW Health and Service NSW said families reported more than 12,000 positive RAT tests among school-aged children in the week starting February 7.
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