06 May 2022
From Monday 9 May, the ACT Government will relax COVID-19 restrictions in ACT public schools while making sure our schools, staff and students stay ‘COVID smart’.
The ACT Health guidelines for schools and early childhood education and care will be replaced in ACT public schools by an ACT Public Schools COVID-19 Management Plan 
(272kb), based on Australian Health Protection Principal Committee principles.
School activities
Under this plan families will be allowed back on campus to participate in a greater range of activities, including after-hours performances, fund raisers such as election day stalls, and events such as school information nights. They can also come onto school grounds for drop-offs and pick up. Checking-in with the CBR app is no longer required.
Strict student cohorting is no longer required, however schools will continue to manage school activities in COVID Smart ways. School staff will also be able to re-engage in face-to-face training and other activities.
Masks
Secondary students will no longer be required to wear a face mask at school. In line with ACT Public Service work health and safety arrangements, public school staff and teachers will continue to wear masks when moving around indoors on school sites, and when physical distancing of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained.
Rapid antigen tests
Rapid antigen tests (RATs) will continue to be available through all ACT schools and will be provided to staff and students on an as-needed basis, or in response to increased cases reported to a school. Early childhood staff also have continued access to RATs under the same arrangements.
Household contacts
People who live with someone who has tested positive to COVID-19 can attend their public school for work or study, if they have met ACT Health’s risk mitigation requirements for household contacts
. Anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms must not come to school.
COVID-19 vaccination
With high vaccination rates across the Canberra community, COVID-19 vaccination will no longer be mandated for any staff working in ACT public schools, after 13 May 2022. Vaccination against COVID-19 and the seasonal flu is strongly encouraged for all staff and eligible students.
Staying COVID Smart
We know our school communities will welcome these changes, but this does not mean the pandemic is over. All schools will continue with COVID Smart measures to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission onsite, including good hygiene practise, cleaning, ventilation and staying home when unwell.
We expect COVID-19 will also continue to impact our school staff and limit the availability of teachers at times. Where appropriate, ACT public schools may use temporary remote learning periods as a way to manage a local staff shortage.
Introducing new arrangements
Schools will inform their communities about what these changes look like in their school.
Some restrictions may be reintroduced in the winter months if there is a significant increase in COVID-19 cases across the Canberra community.
Read more about COVID Smart measures in ACT public schools.