Most public schools do not have hand sanitiser stations,said Phil Seymour from the Primary Principals Association."They have soap in toilets,some classrooms will have sinks in them,but hand sanitiser? Not that I'm aware of."
University of NSW Professor Mary Louise McLaws,an epidemiologist and adviser to the WHO COVID-19 preparedness advisory group,said governments should provide it,as it could be difficult to get large numbers of children to a sink to wash their hands.
"The[WHO] has asked for countries to invoke a whole-of-government approach to the control,and that would include the Department of Education in providing the hand hygiene sanitiser stations,"she said."Until they get around to doing that,I think it's a great activity to get the parents to provide some in the meantime. Soap and water is best,[but] if you can't get 100 kids to the sink,hand sanitiser works. It shows we are taking these things seriously."
William Mude,a lecturer in public health at Central Queensland University,said there were extra steps schools could take to reduce contact between students and maintain good hygiene,such as cleaning surfaces like hand-rails and playgrounds.
"It's something that's within the school jurisdiction,[as are steps such as] postponing school assemblies,incursions and excursions,"Dr Mude said.
Evidence from previous disease outbreaks also showed the spread of viruses could be slowed by staggering lunch hours,so children were not all playing together."Year one and year two can play,then year three and year four,"he said.