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Find out what you need to do if there’s a positive COVID-19 case at your school or OSHC service.
If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 they must notify the school, OHSC or both. Please do not attend the service while symptomatic.
Contact definitions and requirements
For students
This applies to students who attend the school or OSHC setting and undertake learning activities.
Close contact
Leaders and managers should apply a pragmatic approach to managing who is or is not a close contact when following the testing and isolating process.
A student is a close contact if they were supported by a school support officer (SSO) or teacher who has tested positive for COVID-19 and:
- the contact was for a cumulative period of 4 hours, indoors and in close physical proximity
- face masks were not worn.
If a student is a close contact they should undertake 5 rapid antigen tests over a 7-day period following exposure. Students who are a close contact cannot attend an overnight camp during the 7-day period following exposure.
For workers at the school or OSHC
This applies to all people working at the school or OSHC who do not support students one to one (1:1). This includes:
- people working in classroom or OSHC settings – such as teachers, Aboriginal education workers (AEWs), school support officers (SSOs)
- ancillary staff – for example administrative staff with limited student contact, grounds keepers.
If you support a student 1:1, see student support in 1:1 settings on this page.
Close contact
Leaders and managers should apply a pragmatic approach to managing who is or is not a close contact when following the testing and isolating process.
A worker is a close contact if they spent a cumulative period of 4 hours indoors, in close physical proximity and not wearing a mask with another adult who has tested positive for COVID-19.
If you’re a close contact you must undertake 5 rapid antigen tests over a 7-day period following exposure. Staff who are a close contact cannot attend an overnight camp during the 7-day period following exposure.
For workers who support students in 1:1 settings
This applies to people working 1:1 with students, such as SSOs, disability support and allied health workers.
Close contact for 1:1 settings
Leaders and managers should apply a pragmatic approach to managing who is or is not a close contact when following the testing and isolating process.
A worker is a close contact in a 1:1 setting if they:
- supported a student or child who has tested positive for COVID-19 for a cumulative period of 4 hours indoors, in close physical proximity and not wearing a mask
- spent a cumulative period of 4 hours indoors, in close physical proximity and not wearing a mask with another adult who has tested positive for COVID-19.
If you’re a close contact in a 1:1 setting you must undertake 5 rapid antigen tests over a 7-day period following exposure. Staff who are a close contact cannot attend an overnight camp during the 7-day period following exposure.
If recommended to undertake RAT testing or if temporary closure
If you've been recommended to undertake RAT testing or if your service, group or room has been temporarily closed as a circuit breaker in the last 7 days, SA Health's advice for staff and students is to do the following for 7 days:
- avoid attending OSHC and extra-curricular activities, excursions and camps
- avoid high risk settings
- wear a face mask when indoors and on public transport
- avoid working across worksites unless an approved risk management plan is in place (for example rapid antigen testing)
- avoid contact with vulnerable people outside of your workplace or family, where possible
- avoid non-essential activities where possible (for example where there are lots of people, inside, in close contact)
- avoid shared spaces and maintain physical distance.
After recovery from COVID-19
If you have recently recovered from COVID-19, you do not need to test again within 28 daysof first testing positive. However, it is important that you stay home if you have COVID symptoms.
