A PARENT has criticised a public primary school in the central west after it failed to advise parents that a student had been sent home due to being a passenger on board the coronavirus-affected Ruby Princess cruise.
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The ship docked into Sydney Harbour on March 19 with four passengers initially testing positive to COVID-19, with all guests and staff told to self-isolate for 14 days.
By March 27, there were 162 confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW who were on board the ship.
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One passenger, a 77-year-old woman, has died from the virus.
It is understood that on Friday, March 20, a Year 6 student at a school in Orange was removed from class after the school became aware the child was on board the Ruby Princess.
The student's parents were then called to pick up their child.
Another parent, who has a child in same class, contacted the CWD concerned about what they say was a lack of communication from the school following the incident.
The parent asked not to be named for fear of repercussions for their child when it returns to school.
"Last Friday when I picked my child up from school they informed me that another child, who had just got back from a cruise, had been pulled out of school to self-isolate," the parent said.
"We've had no information from the school following the incident.
"I don't even know if the classroom has been cleaned. That room should have been cleaned from top to bottom.
"One of the teachers was shocked as well, they'd only found out at recess."
The parent said the school had not been transparent in how it dealt with the incident and it should have issued a letter to all parents.
"They should have advised us and told us to keep an eye out for symptoms in your children," the parent said.
"At this time I think there's a duty of care."
The Central Western Daily contacted the school for comment but was advised to call the Department of Education.
This was done, but the Department did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
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