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Schools may be safer for children than remaining in the community, one infectious diseases physician says as he predicts a peak of Omicron COVID-19 cases in coming weeks.
Principles for opening and keeping schools open were finalised by federal, state and territory officials on Wednesday and are expected to be approved by the prime minister and premiers on Thursday.
The deal came as Dr Clay Golledge predicted a peak of infections is still some weeks away, with cases then set to plateau for several more weeks before dropping off.
But Dr Golledge said schools were safe to return to amid the case high, branding a short delay to the start of the school year as illogical.
'It is really important kids get back to school. Children get a very mild illness or no illness at all and their transmissibility is less,' he said.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says kids need to be back on day one of school as COVID-19 continues.
'It is a bit of a falsehood to say it is not safe to go back to schools. Clearly there will be some mitigation measures in place in terms of air quality, ventilation and the vaccination program.'
Clinical epidemiologist Nancy Baxter says while school is essential for children, a one or two-week delay won't have a long-term impact, especially if choice is involved.
Professor Baxter says parents should be able to choose whether to send their child to school on the first week or not.
'Schools could be open, but potentially not for all students,' she told the ABC.
