With Australia gone over the 1000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 today (21st Mar 2020), isn't it time we start to get serious about the 'social distancing' restrictions that have been put out by the government to 'flatten the curve'?

The government has announced a ban on all non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of 500. The keyword here being non-essential.

With schools claiming to be ready to deliver online learning for their students, is it really essential that students gather in schools?

With the tightening of the 'social distancing' restrictions to four square meters per person in a room - it'll be extremely interesting to see how many schools in NSW and/or across Australia can accommodate their students whilst adhering to these guidelines. I guess the difference here is essential vs non-essential.

Why can't we take the responsible step as some private schools and close schools and make them available to those students who need carers during business hours?

I've only spoken about students thus far, let's also consider the trauma and worry that the teachers and management of schools are experiencing, trying to protect their own families, respond to parent enquiries and manage this environment when parents send their sick kids to schools - who is responsible for this?

How much learning is really happening in schools vs time spent talking about risk management, learning how to use alternate methods of teaching, advising kids not to attend school if they or someone in their household is sick etc?

Wouldn't it be more efficient for the students, teachers and the wider nation if we just call it and make it official that school attendance is only required for those kids who need caring for, as their parents/carers are unable to work from home etc.? 

The saying 'prevention is better than cure'  is more true in this time of our lives than ever before. We are putting our kids, teachers, their parents, grandparents (most vulnerable of all) and the whole school system at arm's length of this virus and making them potential mass carriers of this infection. 

Let's stop waiting for things to get worse before we close schools and protect our nations most valuable assets 'our children'.

Our children are the future of this nation, let's protect them and prevent them from becoming walking/talking carriers of this dreaded virus.

PLEASE MAKE THE CALL!!