The Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is continuing to evolve and the advice to organisations on how to respond is constantly being updated.
Learning Links has set up a COVID-19 Response Group that is monitoring the developments and is planning, responding and preparing should the situation worsen.
Learning Links continues to follow the advice of the Australian Government, NSW Department of Health and the NSW Department of Education and will provide updates for our families, schools and partners as they occur.
Top line medical advice for all:
- If you develop a fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath within 14 days of overseas travel or are in contact with someone else who has Coronavirus, seek medical attention: call your GP, Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, or in an emergency, your local hospital emergency department, if you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.
UPDATE: Monday 30 March, 2020
Learning Links Update
- Learning Links Preschool and Prep 4 Preschool playgroups are open. Strict hygiene and social distancing practices are being applied.
- We encourage all families where ever possible to limit the number of people and family members bringing children to and from our programs/sites and discourage any additional visitors who are not necessary for the program.
- Learning Links has made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend all one-on-one support services at Learning Links Centres and schools from Monday 30 March.
- The following additional services will continue until further notice: Out of School Hours Care at McCallums Hill Public School, HIPPY, MyTime, 1-2-3 Magic and Engagement Adolescents parenting programs.
- Learning Links is close to finalising a plan for alternative online delivery of services and will notify families when they can access these services.
Government Update
Indoor and Outdoor Public gatherings
National Cabinet agreed to limit both indoor and outdoor gatherings to two persons only.
Exceptions to this limit include:
- People of the same household going out together;
- Funerals – a maximum of 10 people;
- Wedding – a maximum of 5 people;
- Family units.
Individual states and territories may choose to mandate and/or enforce this requirement.
National Cabinet’s strong guidance to all Australians is to stay home unless for:
- shopping for what you need – food and necessary supplies;
- medical or health care needs, including compassionate requirements;
- exercise in compliance with the public gathering requirements;
- work and study if you can’t work or learn remotely.
National Cabinet agreed that playgrounds, skate parks and outside gyms in public places will be closed. Bootcamps will be reduced to two persons, including the trainer.
These measures will be in place from midnight Monday 30 March 2020.
Social Distancing – further measures
States and territories agreed they would implement further social distancing measures specific to their own region, including closing categories of venues, where medical advice supported this action. These measures would be risk-based and targeted at non-essential activities.
Australians will still be able to access the goods and services needed to safely and sustainably live their lives.
Advice for Senior Australians including those with existing health conditions
Coronavirus has more serious impacts on older Australians, those over 70 years of age and Australians with existing health conditions or comorbidities.
National Cabinet’s strong advice is for self-isolation at home to the maximum extent practicable for Australians:
- over 70 years of age;
- over 60 years of age who have existing health conditions or comorbidities;
- indigenous Australians over the age of 50 who have existing health conditions or comorbidities.
These groups should limit contact with others as much as possible when they travel outside.
Commercial and residential tenancies
As part of its work on helping businesses hibernate, National Cabinet agreed that short-term intervention is needed for commercial tenancies. Work on this has begun, but there is more to do, including for residential tenancies.
National Cabinet agreed to a moratorium on evictions over the next six months for commercial and residential tenancies in financial distress who are unable to meet their commitments due to the impact of coronavirus.
Further information on this can be found in the Prime Minister’s statement to the media.
UPDATE: Wednesday 25 March, 2020
Learning Links Update
- Following recent government updates (outlined below), Learning Links Preschool and Prep 4 Preschool playgroups are open.
- Strict hygiene and social distancing practices are being applied.
- We encourage all families where ever possible to limit the number of people and family members bringing children to and from our programs/sites and discourage any additional visitors who are not necessary for the program.
- Learning Links Preschool and Playgroups continue to operate following updated information and advice from the Early Childhood Education Directorate for Early Childhood Settings and Programs.
- Learning Links has made the decision to cancel all group April school holiday programs – all families affected will be contacted.
Government Update
From midnight Wednesday 25 March 2020, the following activities and businesses will no longer be allowed to continue operating:
- Amusement parks and arcades
- Indoor and outdoor play centres
- Community and recreation centres, health clubs, fitness centres, yoga, barre, spin facilities, saunas, wellness centres
- Swimming pools
- Galleries, museums, national institutions, historic sites, libraries, community centres
- Auction houses
- Real estate auctions and open house inspections
- In-store beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons and tattoo parlours, spa and massage parlours (excluding health-related services, like physiotherapy)
- Food courts within shopping centres will only be able to sell takeaway. Shopping centres themselves will remain open
The Prime Minister has also placed limitations on other activities:
- Hairdressers and barber shops can continue, but they must limit the time a customer is in the premise to no more than 30 minutes
- Outdoor personal training and boot camps are limited to a maximum of 10 people
- Weddings can continue, but only with the couple, the celebrant, and witnesses — totaling a maximum of five people
- Funerals are limited to a maximum of 10 people
- Outdoor and indoor food markets will be addressed by individual states and territories
Australians would be banned from travelling overseas, with some exceptions made for aid workers and for compassionate, employment and other essential travel.
The advice on schools from the Australian Government has not changed, advising it is safe to send children to school. The NSW Government is still asking families to keep their children at home where possible.
Click here for the most recent updates from Learning Links.
Click here for the most recent updates from the Australian Government Department of Health.
Click here for the most recent updates from NSW Health.
Click here for the most recent updates from the NSW Department of Education.
