More infections: No changes to schools
Coronavirus
The number of CoV infections is increasing again in Salzburg’s schools: on Wednesday the number of positive cases was twice as high as a week earlier. There are hardly any regulations for schools, only recommendations. The state education department will stick to that.
Masks or antigen tests are now compulsory again at 20 school locations. The directorates can decide on the specifications themselves. On the other hand, there are no comprehensive tests – after the criticism from parents and student representatives last year, because testing was constant and everywhere.
Director suspects “high number of unreported cases”
It’s different this year: There are only recommendations from the central authorities to the schools: If at least three CoV cases occur in a class within three days, the school management can make masks compulsory or have antigen tests carried out.
A school director in the city of Salzburg told the ORF that he could not take any measures and intervene because he no longer found out the number of infections. The number of unreported cases is certainly enormous. Conversely, this would mean that many students and teachers are infected, but apparently have no symptoms.
Provincial Councilor: The procedure has proven its worth
So far, the procedure has proven very effective, says Education Minister Daniela Gutschi (ÖVP). But there are no more tests in other areas of society either. Almost 90 positive CoV tests from schools were reported on Tuesday – twice as many as a week earlier. However, the 20 school locations whose directorates have again made masks compulsory or have antigen tests carried out are small compared to the total of 360 schools in the state.