SCHOOLS are opting to re-introduce facemasks as COVID-19 cases continue to surge across Tamworth.
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In a bid to curb case numbers and keep kids at school, the NSW Department of Education (DoE) has encouraged a number of schools around the region to take extra precautions.
Tamworth High School principal Keith Leyshon said he was advised by the DoE to implement a five-day mandatory mask requirement for all staff and students while indoors.
"We've had a number of cases both in the student body and with staff," Mr Leyshon said.
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"I just thought it was a good opportunity to make sure that we're not going to have any more transmission."
Mr Leyshon said while staff retention has been "quite good" at Tamworth High, a number of staff had come from the regional office to keep things running.
"We've been able to maintain our normal structures at the moment, but without that support we wouldn't have been able to," he said.
From Monday, Westdale Public School implemented mask wearing for staff, assemblies were cancelled for five days and a year four class was required to learn from home for three days.
Bingara Central School switched kindergarten classes to at-home-learning for four days, masks were enforced for staff and high school students and assemblies were cancelled on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the NSW DoE said when a school is experiencing an increase in staff or student related cases, the department may direct them to take additional, proportionate and short measures.
"School communities in the Tamworth region have been impacted this week by an increase in local cases of COVID-19," the spokesperson said.
"It's critical that our schools remain open because we know that the best place for our students to learn is in the classroom, face to face with their teachers."
Mr Leyshon said the school community had responded positively to the changes.
"All we're trying to do is curb the upward trend of COVID in our immediate school community," he said.
"If we have to wear masks for the next four days, we'll wear masks for the next four days."
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