THE recent cases of COVID-19 are a "regional issue" given students from St Pius at Adamstown live across the greater Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area, Jodie Harrison says.
The Charlestown MP is calling for masks to be mandated rather than "strongly encouraged" in order to limit further community transmission.
"Obviously having a school closed as a result of a student testing positive to COVID is concerning," Ms Harrison said.
"The school takes students from all over the area - it's not just a local school, so this is a regional issue.
"My concern is particularly for the students who would have been travelling on the school bus. If masks had been mandated, the risk of transmission would certainly be reduced."
Ms Harrison said another key concern was the students who played for the Under 15 Jets side, who come from multiple schools.
But Hunter New England Health contact tracers were working hard to identify locations and people who may be at a higher risk of infection.
"Heed the health advice, don't stand too close to anybody, and don't travel unless you need to," she said.
"Now is really a time that we need to be as vigilant as we can be so we don't go down the same path as Victoria.
"I certainly believe the Premier shouldn't be saying masks are strongly encouraged - I believe the Premier should be saying masks are mandated - particularly on public transport and in areas where you just cannot socially distance.
"Mask shortages are a real issue. We knew there was a shortage of PPE months ago across the country, across the state.
"The government really should have sorted this out."
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