Some of Sydney's most disadvantaged students will be forced to continue learning from home while others return to class on August 16.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed that students in areas with high Covid-19 rates will not be allowed to school while those in the rest of the city will have access to a 'flexible model' where they can attend for certain reasons.
The eight local government areas with high case numbers - which include many of Sydney's most disadvantaged children - are Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta.
Cleaners in personal protective equipment at conduct a deep clean at Strathfield South Public School in Sydney on Monday after a positive case attended
'The students who live in those eight local government areas of concern will not be able to have any face-to-face time for the foreseeable future until otherwise advised,' Ms Berejiklian said.
'However, in areas outside of those local government areas, there will be a flexible model for HSC students, if you need to go into the classroom for whatever reason in order to pick up material or do some face-to-face exams or whatever is required.'
HSC trails for all students in Greater Sydney will be done at home.
Ms Berejiklian claimed that no student would be disadvantaged because online learning would continue.
'It won't be normal classes but certainly it will be a level of presence to ensure that no students are disadvantaged in terms of acquiring their qualifications,' she said.
'Trials will be done at home and at least it means that there is certainty and all students know they will qualify for the HSC.'
HSC students in the eight areas of concern can get vaccinated with Pfizer at the Qudos Bank Arena from Monday in a bid to get them back to class within weeks.
Students from Bankstown (pictured are police in the area on Thursday) are not allowed to attend school
New South Wales has recorded 291 new Covid-19 cases amid warnings the record number of infections is likely to rise over the coming days . Pictured: Testing at Fairfield on Thursday
'We hope students and families will have conversations and make sure they provide the opportunity for the student to come forward and get vaccinated,' the premier said.
'It is important because we know it is a requirement that they have to set a public examination for HSC.'
NSW recorded 291 new Covid-19 cases on Friday amid warnings daily numbers would rise further.
Premier Berejiklian warned that case numbers would skyrocket after noting that 50 people were out in the community while infectious.
'We are likely to see this trend continue for the next few days,' she said during a press conference on Friday.
'Everybody must prepare themselves for higher case numbers in the next few days just based on the trend in the last few days and where things are going.
'I am expecting higher case numbers in the few days and I just everyone to be prepared for that.'
An unvaccinated woman in her 60s, from south-west Sydney, has also died at Liverpool Hospital.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that case numbers would skyrocket after noting that 50 people were out in the community while infectious. Pictured: Police in Liverpool on Thursday
The new cases smash the previous record of 262 infections that were reported on Thursday. There were 110,000 tests conducted in the past 24 hours
The new cases smash the previous record of 262 infections that were reported on Thursday. There were 110,000 tests conducted in the past 24 hours.
Ms Berejiklian noted that the highest increase of cases were being recorded in the Canterbury-Bankstown local government areas - one of eight LGAs that are currently under hard lockdown.
She warned more police officers would be patrolling the area - after deploying defence force personnel into the area on Monday.
'We are seeing too many people frequent certain shopping areas and perhaps not doing the right thing,' she said.
'So police will be more present in the Canterbury-Bankstown local area to ensure compliance and we have to make sure that happens, because we don't want to see these case numbers continue to grow into the next few weeks.'
Suburbs that have recorded the biggest spike in cases include Campsie, Bankstown, Lakemba, Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Yagoona, Greenacre, Earlwood, Bass Hill and Chester Hill.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant urged residents to be vigilant of flu-like symptoms.
'So it is important for anyone going into that area or essential work, working in that area, living in that area, to be very, very vigilant,' she said.
'We are seeing transmission, potentially around shopping areas.
'Do not enter shops when there are other people in the shop, wait outside.'
Year 12 students living in the eight local government areas will also be unable to return to the classrooms as planned by August 16.
'Trials will be done at home and at least it means that there is certainty and all students know they will qualify for the HSC,' Ms Berejiklian said.
Ms Berejiklian noted that the highest increase of cases were being recorded in the Canterbury-Bankstown local government areas - one of eight LGAs that are currently under hard lockdown
Suburbs that have recorded the biggest spike in cases include Campsie, Bankstown, Lakemba, Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Yagoona, Greenacre, Earlwood, Bass Hill and Chester Hill (pictured, residents in Double Bay)
The
