By Emily-Rose Toohey
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a two-week school start delay this afternoon.
The announcement follows Queensland recording 18 000 new Covid-19 cases overnight.
The new start date for students is 7 February rather than 24 January.
However, Ms Palaszczuk said Year 11 and 12 students will start remote learning from 31 January.
“Schools will still be open for vulnerable children and children of essential workers,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“This is going to be a tough time of year for a lot of people.”
She said Queensland is expected to reach its Omicron wave peak during the last week of January and the first week of February.
“Therefore, it is not desirable to have our children starting school during the peak of this wave – this is a necessary delay,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“It allows more time for people to be vaccinated; please book your child to be vaccinated.”
Ms Palaszczuk said students below Year 11 will complete an extra week of school at the year’s end, finishing 16 December.
“I thank you for your patience and understanding,” she said.
