NSW educators can say goodbye to masks from 7 March as restrictions ease

Educators working in New South Wales early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings will be able to ditch the masks indoors come 7 March as restrictions in the state ease. 

COVID Smart settings in NSW education, primarily in schools, have been revised with the aim of giving children “the first taste of normal school life” since the pandemic began two years ago. Core safety measures, including enhanced clearing and maximising natural ventilation will remain in line with health advice. 

The initial changes, to be implemented from Monday 28 February, will include a relaxation in cohort requirements and activity restrictions, which will allow students to engage more freely across class and year groups, and the presence of more visitors on school grounds, including parents. 

School camps and assemblies will return, and students and teachers in high schools will no longer need to wear masks. 

The next wave of changes, due to begin 7 March 2022, will see primary school teachers and those working in early childhood freed from the requirement to wear a mask.

Relaxing some measures while keeping others in place was “a sensible approach”, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said. 

“It is time to afford our students and parents more normality. Everyone wants to get back to the school activities and events we all love,” he added. 

Minister for Education and Early Learning, Sarah Mitchell, said the measures made sense given transmission in schools is “extremely low” and that “not a single school has closed since school returned despite the levels of community transmission.” 

The COVID Smart settings will continue to be reviewed and updated, as necessary on health advice. To access this announcement please see here.