School cleaning allocations and standards 

State schools have high standards of well-established hygiene protocols and cleaning of their facilities. In response to COVID-19, the Queensland Government has approved a temporary increase in cleaning time allocated to state schools. 

This action has been taken to allow for even greater attention and frequency to cleaning activity in schools, particularly for high touch points including administration buildings, classrooms and amenities blocks. In line with previous advice, it is important that these areas are given focus with the application of the high priority cleaning protocols.  

Additional cleaning is to be implemented until further notice. School cleaning must prioritise frequently used areas with extra attention on high touch point surfaces, such as door handles, light switches, desks, toilets, taps and sinks. This also includes sick rooms and student service areas 

Shared equipment 

Shared equipment such as practical workshop resources, musical instruments and sports equipment used within the school, or equipment loaned to students to take home, such as books, will require appropriate cleaning and hygiene management practices including: 

• washing hands or using hand sanitiser prior to cleaning or using equipment 
• cleaning equipment prior to and after use 
• clean playground equipment and other high touch points 

• cleaning of equipment prior to it leaving the school grounds and upon return. 

Cleaning playground equipment 

Playground equipment is considered to be low risk and therefore can continue to be used. However, as part of our broader health and hygiene approach, a number of simple precautions should be taken: 

• ensure children wash their hands with soap or use hand sanitiser before and after using playground equipment and build this as part of their routine 
• actively manage group/class size using play equipment at any one time to avoiding overcrowding 

• regularly clean play equipment.