Perth parents say they are having sleepless nights over whether to send their children to school during the four-day lockdown.
Schools in WA are open today, except for three on the list of public COVID-19 exposure sites.
However, Premier Mark McGowan said parents can elect to keep their children at home if they wish.
Ellenbrook mother Claire Henderson said it had been a very difficult decision and she was suffering from “a lot of mum guilt” after taking her six-year-old daughter Elannah to primary school this morning.
But she felt it was the right option.
“My daughter is quite concerned about the coronavirus,” Mrs Henderson said.
“In the last few weeks, she has been having some bad dreams about the virus.
“She really wanted to go to school.
“I thought there is less chance of her worrying about it if she’s in her normal routine.
“And I trust Mark McGowan and what he has done so far.”
Parents question why schools are open
Many other parents have kept their children at home, believing it is safer until the extent of the spread of the virus is better understood.
Some have questioned why the lockdown was not extended to schools, given the school holidays start on the weekend.
Bronwyn Ife from Victoria Park has two children, aged 14 and 11, and opted to keep them at home today.
“The kids wanted to go to school but I was mostly concerned for the teachers who probably didn’t want rooms full of children when they themselves were probably quite worried,” she said.
“The high school had told us it was absolutely our choice and had put the work for the students online.
Source : https://www.abc.net.au/