Daily temperature checks will be introduced in schools across metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire as part of the Victorian Government’s effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Following the advice of Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government has today announced that students at government schools in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will receive a temperature check every morning, with thermometers also provided to all non-government schools.

More than 14,000 non-contact infrared thermometers will be given to government, independent and Catholic schools in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, and to schools in neighbouring areas who need to undertake testing. The Government will also provide thermometers to those early childhood education and care services who require them.

Temperature checks will also be introduced for children from metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire who attend schools outside of these LGAs.

Operational guidance on temperature checks will be delivered to schools. If a student has a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius or above, schools will be required to contact parents or carers to arrange for students to return home. Families will then be encouraged to seek testing for coronavirus or the advice of their healthcare professional who can advise on next steps.

As announced on Tuesday, students in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire enrolled in VCE and VCAL subjects, students whose parents and carers cannot work from home, and those attending local specialist schools will all return to school on Monday. In addition, on site supervised holiday programs are available next week for vulnerable students and children of essential workers.

Schools in these areas will delay the return from holidays by a week with five pupil free days for Prep to Year 10 students next week to allow our teachers and school staff to prepare for a possible return to remote learning. A decision about whether these year groups can safely return to face-to-face learning will be taken in the coming week and based on the advice of our health experts.

There will be no changes to Term 3 for schools in regional Victoria other than Mitchell Shire. Schools outside of metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will return to face-to-face schooling as scheduled on Monday 13 July.

The Government has invested up to $45 million in enhanced daily cleaning in schools and this will continue throughout Term 3. Schools will continue to provide multiple entry points and staggered drop-off and pick-ups where necessary, to reduce the number of adults gathering around school grounds at any one time.